Azelle Rodney inquiry hears from detective inspector

The ongoing public inquiry into the police shooting of Azelle Rodney heard from detective inspector Christopher Heerey last week.

Heerey detailed his role on 30 April 2005 when Azelle was killed. Heerey agreed that he was the silver commander’s “right hand man”. He carried out risk assessments while the operation was being planned and gave briefings to officers on the day.

Heerey told the inquiry he could not remember what he said in those briefings, or if the component parts of the operation were briefed together or separately.

Police set up surveillance and decided that Azelle and two friends had automatic weapons and were planning to steal drugs from a gang in north London.

Police stopped the car Azelle was travelling in and an officer fired eight rounds into it, killing Azelle instantly. A representative for Azelle’s family asked Heerey what happened next.

“One of the versions or one of the takes people have on what was said directly afterwards is, ‘The boy in the back held up a gun. Can you tell the DI please?’ Did somebody come up to Silver and tell him that?” he asked.

Heerey replied, “I mean, I don’t know. That may have happened. I can’t answer that.” The inquiry continues.