Yassar Yaqub, 28, was shot by an armed officer when his Audi automobile was
pulled up on the M62 near Huddersfield in January 2017.
A jury at Leeds Crown Court found that the officer who shot Mr Yaqub
“honestly believed… his life was in danger and discharged his handgun
with reasonable force.”
Mohammed Yaqub, his father, stated that the family was considering a
challenge.
West Yorkshire Police were watching Mr Yaqub and three other guys.
According to the jury, the Audi was rammed by an unmarked police car in
order to halt it, and an armed officer leaning out of his window fired
three shots at Mr Yaqub.
Two of the bullets struck him in the chest, resulting in “catastrophic
blood loss.”
The cop who fired the deadly bullets told the jury that he had “no other
option,” and that Mr Yaqub aimed a revolver at him before firing.
According to the inquest, a loaded weapon was discovered in the footwell
under the front passenger seat, where Mr Yaqub was when he was shot.
To shield his identify, the West Yorkshire Police officer, known as V39,
told the inquest he “feared for my life and the lives of my colleagues.”
Mr Yaqub’s car was stopped near Junction 24 at Huddersfield V39 after he
refused his instruction to “show me your hands” and instead stooped down
before bringing a revolver over the dashboard.
The cop claimed that if he hadn’t opened fire, he “would have been shot.
Mr Yaqub’s father, Mohammed Yaqub, issued the following statement: “We are
astonished and perplexed by the conclusion that this was a legal killing.
We believe V39 murdered Yassar unlawfully. He was murdered for no apparent
cause. Yassar was ruthlessly taken from my family and me. We blew the
opportunity to utter our final words.
He continued: “We believe the coroner made a grave error in not allowing
the jury to consider whether Yassar was murdered unlawfully. The jury, not
the coroner, makes the decision. By not allowing the jury to decide these
matters, the coroner has caused unfairness – he has simply chosen what
happened himself.
“We are actively discussing with our legal staff whether we should fight
this decision.”
Mr Yaqub’s father, Mohammed Yaqub, stated that the family was devastated
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins said he was “shocked” by
the outcome of the inquest. “The loss of life in any circumstances is, of
course, tragic, and our sympathies remain with the Yaqub family for the
loss of their loved one,” he said.
“But I also want to recognise how tough the last five to six years have
been for the officers and employees who have been directly involved.
“From the incident itself to the criminal prosecutions, the inquiry by the
Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and finally the current
inquest itself, this has been a constant in their life.”
According to the IOPC, the officer “provided a clear and believable
explanation to IOPC investigators, which was substantially corroborated by
other evidence, explaining the use of force.”
“Based on the available facts, we determined that the use of force was
necessary and appropriate in the circumstances as he truly and reasonably
believed them to be,” the statement continued.
pulled up on the M62 near Huddersfield in January 2017.
A jury at Leeds Crown Court found that the officer who shot Mr Yaqub
“honestly believed… his life was in danger and discharged his handgun
with reasonable force.”
Mohammed Yaqub, his father, stated that the family was considering a
challenge.
West Yorkshire Police were watching Mr Yaqub and three other guys.
According to the jury, the Audi was rammed by an unmarked police car in
order to halt it, and an armed officer leaning out of his window fired
three shots at Mr Yaqub.
Two of the bullets struck him in the chest, resulting in “catastrophic
blood loss.”
The cop who fired the deadly bullets told the jury that he had “no other
option,” and that Mr Yaqub aimed a revolver at him before firing.
According to the inquest, a loaded weapon was discovered in the footwell
under the front passenger seat, where Mr Yaqub was when he was shot.
To shield his identify, the West Yorkshire Police officer, known as V39,
told the inquest he “feared for my life and the lives of my colleagues.”
Mr Yaqub’s car was stopped near Junction 24 at Huddersfield V39 after he
refused his instruction to “show me your hands” and instead stooped down
before bringing a revolver over the dashboard.
The cop claimed that if he hadn’t opened fire, he “would have been shot.
Mr Yaqub’s father, Mohammed Yaqub, issued the following statement: “We are
astonished and perplexed by the conclusion that this was a legal killing.
We believe V39 murdered Yassar unlawfully. He was murdered for no apparent
cause. Yassar was ruthlessly taken from my family and me. We blew the
opportunity to utter our final words.
He continued: “We believe the coroner made a grave error in not allowing
the jury to consider whether Yassar was murdered unlawfully. The jury, not
the coroner, makes the decision. By not allowing the jury to decide these
matters, the coroner has caused unfairness – he has simply chosen what
happened himself.
“We are actively discussing with our legal staff whether we should fight
this decision.”
Mr Yaqub’s father, Mohammed Yaqub, stated that the family was devastated
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins said he was “shocked” by
the outcome of the inquest. “The loss of life in any circumstances is, of
course, tragic, and our sympathies remain with the Yaqub family for the
loss of their loved one,” he said.
“But I also want to recognise how tough the last five to six years have
been for the officers and employees who have been directly involved.
“From the incident itself to the criminal prosecutions, the inquiry by the
Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and finally the current
inquest itself, this has been a constant in their life.”
According to the IOPC, the officer “provided a clear and believable
explanation to IOPC investigators, which was substantially corroborated by
other evidence, explaining the use of force.”
“Based on the available facts, we determined that the use of force was
necessary and appropriate in the circumstances as he truly and reasonably
believed them to be,” the statement continued.
