Officer suspended over ‘song titles’ at inquest claim

A POLICE marksman accused of inserting song titles into his evidence during the inquest into the death of barrister Mark Saunders was suspended yesterday, his force said.

The member of the Metropolitan Police’s CO19 firearms unit, known only as Alpha Zulu 8 (AZ8), was suspended following allegations that he peppered his testimony under oath with musical references.

He has already been reprimanded for swearing repeatedly during his evidence at Westminster Coroner’s Court.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched a fresh investigation after senior officers referred the allegations to the watchdog.

Sources close to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson said he was “furious” that anyone could show such “insensitivity and lack of judgment” during the high-profile hearing.

Saunders’s mother Rosemary, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, who sat through much of the inquest, accused the officer of apparently treating it as a “game”.

She told the Evening Standard: “It does make me think about what goes on within CO19 and how seriously they have taken this case.

“Having seen all of these men interviewed, we saw the moderate ones who didn’t fire a gun, and the ones that fired, who were completely different. His attitude has not surprised me.

“There needs to be a rigorous investigation into this. It’s not acceptable. We feel very strongly about that.”

The two-and-a-half week inquest found high-flying barrister Saunders, 32, was lawfully killed when he pointed his shotgun at officers after a drinking binge.

But it raised questions over how such difficult operations are run and offered an insight into the minds of firearms officers.

AZ8 was one of four officers who may have fired shots that caused fatal injuries to Saunders as he stood at his kitchen window in Markham Square, Chelsea on May 6, 2008.

The officer, who fired as he tried to place a battery-powered spotlight below Saunders, told the inquest he regretted not pulling the trigger earlier.

And his bullish testimony was notable for several outbursts of swearing, including the remark “f*** my old boots”. adding he was “buggered” if he was going to turn his back on a gunman.

It was not clear what officials suspect the song titles are, but it is understood they are now also examining the evidence of other firearms officers.

AZ8 used the phrases “first time”, a hit by Robin Beck, “enough is enough”, the subtitle of hit single No More Tears by Barbra Streisand, “point of no return”, a Duran Duran hit, and “line of fire”, recorded by rock band Journey.