‘Trigger-happy’police accused after sick father is shot dead
A MAN was shot dead in his home by police marksmen yesterday after he was seen brandishing a shotgun and a machete.
Officers were called to the house by the victim in the early hours. They left but were called back after a neighbour reported a disturbance. An armed response unit was brought in after 47-year- old Philip Marsden was seen with the weapons. He was shot 11 minutes later.
As the Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an investigation into the shooting last night, the victim’s family accused the police of being ‘trigger happy’.
They said Mr Marsden had been suffering from depression since losing his job a year ago but did not pose a threat to anyone.
His brother Eric, 49, added: ‘I am just staggered that he has been shot dead by the police. They have definitely over-reacted. They have been totally trigger happy.
‘ He was a lovely man who just happened to have been out of work for a while. He was a gentle man and not violent in any way.’
Neighbours said Mr Marsden, a divorcee, had been drinking heavily since losing his job as an assistant at a centre for people with learning difficulties.
Earlier in the day, he had been involved in a dispute with a neighbour at the block of flats in Meir, Stoke- on- Trent.
Police were called and resolved the problem but had to return when the father of one, a former miner, lost his temper and marched out of his flat with a shotgun and a 3ft machete.
Neighbour Brian Guildart, 55, said: ‘ He was shouting, “ I’ll get you” at them and he was waving the gun about. He was very pumped up but speaking slowly as if he had been drinking heavily.
‘ A few minutes later two WPCs turned up and he turned on them. He shouted, “You can bugger off if you think you’re coming in here. I’ll use this on you” as he waved the gun around.’
Armed police arrived at the scene at around 1.10am. Police cars surrounded the building and spotlights were trained on it.
At 1.21am police challenged Mr Marsden on the staircase of the flats and ordered him to put down his weapons. When he refused he was shot dead.
Pensioner Valerie Platt, 61, said: ‘He was a very nice bloke and has always been friendly towards me. But he has been suffering from depression since he lost his job.
‘ He’s been going downhill and drinking a lot ever since. Some of the residents say they saw him waving a gun around.
‘However, when I saw how many police officers and police dogs and forensics experts there were I thought there had been more like ten people killed I was shocked to see it was just one person.’
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which has launched a full inquiry.
John Crawley, IPCC commissioner for the West Midlands, said: ‘We are investigating whether the use of a firearm was appropriate and whether the use of force was kept to a minimum. That is at the heart of our investigation.’
Reacting to the claims of police over-reaction, he added: ‘ We are offering to meet with the family and, indeed, have already talked to some relatives.’
Mr Marsden is the fifth person to be shot dead by police this year. In 2004, the figure was three people.
j.narain@dailymail.co.uk