Police In Fatal Shooting Should Be "Brought To Justice"

Anthony Grainger’s girlfriend, Gail Hadfield, has called for the police officers that shot him dead to be “brought to justice.”

Described as a “dedicated father” who did not deserve to die, My Grainger was shot shot and killed by armed police on March 3 when he stopped in a stolen car. Grainger and a number of associates had been under surveillance in the time leading up to what police called a “pre-planned operation”.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission completed a forensic examination of the car in Grainger was shot through the windscreen. No weapons or firearms were found in the car, or on Grainger.

Speaking to the Guardian, Hadfield said: "Anthony had a full-time job as a vehicle recovery driver for a well-established breakers' firm, dealing in damaged and repairable cars, also scrap cars, situated in Bury (Greater Manchester)," she said. "He didn't drink and was certainly not a party animal, he was a dedicated father."

"The car was stolen [but] it doesn't mean he knew it was – or even if he did, is that a reason to lose a life?" She added.

Grainger had been known to police for more than 13 years but had no convictions for violent crimes. In 1998, he was driving a car in a high-speed chase during which Derek Ianson smashed his way through the rear window of the stolen BMW and attacked the pursuing patrol car with a spanner.

While on bail for joyriding and ram-raiding charges Ianson was killed by Grainger's brother Stuart with a machine gun after a fight involving a meat cleaver. Stuart Grainger was jailed for life in 2001.

In 2010, Anthony Grainger was accused of being connected with a plot to corrupt a drugs squad officer into selling confidential information. The multi-million pound trial that followed collapsed after it was revealed a juror had made contact with a co-defendant.

Grainger’s mother has called for the officers who shot her son to face murder charges if misconduct is found: “I expect to get [the decision] that the police have murdered my son and if it comes to that conclusion I want the officer charged with murder and I want the other officers charged with conspiracy to murder …”

An inquest into Mr Grainger’s death has been opened and adjourned at Warrington coroner’s court.

(H)