JERMAINE BAKER.
Who was Jermaine Baker?
Jermaine Baker was a 28 year old father of two who was killed by the police in 2015.
What happened?
The facts about Jermaine's killing are still not clear. The police narrative was that Jermaine Baker was in a car with his friends who were attempting to break someone out of prison. The officer who has only been referred to as ‘W80’ says that he had acted in “self defence” when he had shot through the windscreen window, killing Jermaine with one gunshot wound. No firearm was found but they were able to recover an imitation BB gun in the rear of the vehicle.
Since Jermaine was killed, the police have failed to provide evidence of their series of events. The narrative from Jermain’s friends who were in the vehicle at the time stated that they were all asleep when the officer shot through the windscreen, killing Jermaine. The officers failed to record communications during the incident and failed to fit audio visual recording in their armed response vehicles. This was a clear failure in their duty of care.
What was the legal implication?
Initially the officer, ‘W80’ was arrested and interviewed under caution, but the CPS did not bring charges against the Marksman saying that there was “insufficient evidence to charge.” As a result, the family have been fighting for an inquest which finally took place at the start of 2020. The IOPC (independent office for police conduct) regional director, Sarah Green said, “I have directed that W80 should face gross misconduct proceedings having applied the relevant legal tests,” to which the Met disagreed and the CPS upheld their decision.
The circumstances around Baker's killing remain undetermined. And raise many questions. Community activist Stafford Scott commented that “the IPCC’s inability to provide a definitive answer on whether Baker was awake is fuelling the growing belief that he must have been asleep at the time. Which then begs the question: how can somebody who was asleep pose an immediate threat to the police or the public?”
The inquiry continues.
Further information.
If you want to find out more about other victims of police and state violence in the UK, click here.
The proportion of BAME deaths in custody where restraint is a feature is over two times greater than it is in other deaths in custody. The proportion of BAME deaths in custody where use of force is a feature is over two times greater than it is in other deaths in custody. The proportion of BAME deaths in custody where mental health-related issues are a feature is nearly two times greater than it is in other deaths in custody.