A police marksman is facing serious misconduct allegations after fatally shooting an unarmed father-of-two during a foiled prison break, with a hearing being told he used 'excessive and unreasonable force'.
The Dramatic Incident
The confrontation occurred when Jermaine Baker, 28, was part of a group attempting to spring two prisoners from Wood Green Crown Court in December 2015. Armed police had been monitoring the planned escape for several days after receiving intelligence about the plot.
Mr Baker was sitting in a stolen Audi near the courthouse when specialist firearms officers moved in to apprehend the suspects. Despite being unarmed, the marksman - identified only as Officer W80 - discharged a single shot that proved fatal.
Misconduct Hearing Revelations
The disciplinary panel heard that Officer W80 genuinely believed Mr Baker posed an imminent threat to himself and his colleagues. However, prosecutors argued this belief was 'unreasonable' given the available evidence and intelligence.
Andrew Begbie, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, told the hearing: 'The level of force used was excessive and unreasonable in the circumstances. The officer's actions fell below the standard expected of a competent firearms officer.'
Complex Legal History
This misconduct hearing follows a lengthy legal battle that reached the Supreme Court. Officer W80 had previously faced a murder trial in 2017 but was acquitted by a jury. The current proceedings focus specifically on whether he breached professional standards rather than criminal law.
The hearing continues as the three-person panel examines whether the officer's use of lethal force was justified or constituted gross misconduct that could end his police career.
