Off-Duty Cop Cleared Over Fatal 2015 Shooting
A Met Police firearms officer, known only as W80, will face no action after a misconduct hearing into the deadly shooting of Jermaine Baker was dropped.
Hearing Axed: No Case to Answer
The misconduct panel at Palestra House in central London ruled on Wednesday 15 October that W80 had no case to answer. The officer shot Jermaine Baker during a tense police operation in December 2015 near Wood Green Crown Court.
Panel chair Chris McKay confirmed, “The decision of the panel is that we find there is no case for W80 to answer in these proceedings and accordingly the case against W80 is dismissed.” Full reasons will be published within five working days.
What Really Happened That Day?
Jermaine Baker, 28, a father of two from Tottenham, was shot at close range. The specialist firearms officer believed Baker was reaching for a gun.
But during the hearing it came out that Baker was unarmed and seated in the front passenger seat of a stolen Audi A6. An imitation firearm was later discovered in the back of the car.
Background: Foiling a Prison Break
The shooting happened during a police sting to stop a prison breakout plot targeting two inmates, including Izzet Eren, being moved to Wood Green Crown Court. The prisoners were serving sentences for firearms offences.
Several conspirators involved in the failed breakout received jail sentences.
This high-profile case sparked years of legal wrangling to determine if officer W80 had crossed the line with use of force.
