Simon Murden's family to meet chief prosecutor
THE parents of Simon Murden are to meet the country's chief prosecutor to ask why the police officers who killed their son were not charged.
Charity worker Simon, of Beverley, was shot dead by Humberside Police firearms officers on the morning of March 22, 2005.
He had been driving his father's van the wrong way down the A63 while suffering a psychotic episode.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sir Ken Macdonald QC, ruled in October 2006 the officers involved should not face criminal charges.
Now he has agreed to meet Simon's parents, Dorothy and David, to explain his decision.
It comes as he has indicated he will not be reviewing his initial decision, having now fully considered the conclusions drawn from the inquest into Simon's death.
A jury two months ago concluded the officers were justified in their actions.
Mrs Murden told the Mail: “The letter said he has considered the verdict carefully and his reply is he does not intend to carry out a further review of the case.
“Before reaching his final decision he has invited us to a meeting.
“Our biggest complaint right now, is that the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not bring charges against the officers.
“Therefore, this case was never examined as we believe it should have been.
“An inquest does not have teeth and, as a result, there was not the severe questioning there should have been.”
A spokeswoman for Sir Ken said: “I can confirm the Murden family asked for a meeting with Sir Ken Macdonald QC, following the inquest into the death of Simon Murden.
“A date for the meeting has to be finalised. We consider these meetings confidential and the DPP has nothing further to add.”
The Murdens are considering taking civil action against Humberside Police and said they may even risk their house to do so.
The family have been advised by their QC, Michael Topolski, if they win the claim only £7,500 may be awarded to each family member.
But Mrs Murden said: “It is not about the money. It is about vindicating Simon's name.
“We want it to go before a high court judge and he would make a decision about whether, on the grounds of human rights, we could make a financial claim against the police.
“While there are options available, we will fight to clear Simon's name.”
Mr Murden said: “I cannot rest until Simon's name is cleared.
In a civil trial the standard of proof is lower than that of a criminal case, which requires proof “beyond all reasonable doubt.”
Instead, the allegation must be proved on the “balance of probabilities.”
Simon's older brother, Jonathan, said he is still unable to come to terms with what happened and is now moving down south with his family.
He said: “There are too many painful memories here.”
Simon would have celebrated his 30th birthday tomorrow.
33 Comments
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by xcalibr, Hull
Tuesday, June 17 2008, 6:51PM
“Trial”
by peteg, Kingston upon Hull
Tuesday, June 17 2008, 6:15PM
“If you can't accept it, Geoff Hull, you'll have to put up with it.
There is obviously a rreason why you are so anti-Police, perhaps you and the deceased shared the same lifestyle.
As for the poor lad being stopped before he did anything crazy, I will take it that you only came in at the end and are unaware of his wreckless driving down the wrong carriageway of the A63.
If you aren't an 'ignorant chav', you certainly appear to be a biased bigot.”
by Geoff, Hull
Tuesday, June 17 2008, 7:09AM
“To ignorant chavs like peteg and Jim, Huul, UK - Peter Maskell's comments sum it up. Excessive force used by a proven poor force (check the latest conviction rate for Humbs and also the postion of the force in recent years' league tables.
The argument that a stoned young bloke with 2 ceremonial swords was a risk to lives of 2 weel-armed coppers is pathetic. The boy needed stopping before he did anything really crazy but I cannot accept that the amount of rounds discharged into this lad was necessary.”
by peteg, Kingston upon Hull
Monday, June 16 2008, 4:46PM
“Money, Money, Money.
The Murden family signature tune.
They aint gonna get none.
If they want to remember their son, sit down around a table and debate why none of you were there for him, when he needed you most.
You are prolonging your own self imposed agony, not to mention the agony to the numerous readers of the HDM.
Sell your house and move on.”
by Steve, Lincoln
Monday, June 16 2008, 4:11PM
“deanwho Hull,
I know it's going back a bit but if I remember rightly, the court details reported here said that the incident was over about 30 seconds after the armed police arrived.
I served in Northern Ireland at the time of the troubles and if we as security forces had used "excessive force" (as dictated by the yellow card we had to carry), we would have been charged because of the amount of rounds discharged to subdue 1 person. We were ordinary soldiers doing a job, and not highly trained marksmen as the police firearms unit claim to be.”
by Boaz, In goal
Sunday, June 15 2008, 7:47PM
“very trivial question i know, but why is the Murden's name blanked out?”
by Tom, Willerby
Sunday, June 15 2008, 6:45PM
“A few weeks ago people may recall the shooting dead of a man in Chelsea, who was armed and was shooting at Police and public alike. Numerous witnesses describing the panic and alarm caused by the mans actions. At the time it seemed to be that all agreed the Police had no option but to use lethal force. Surprise, surprise, now "legal experts" are advising the widow and not for the first time the action taken is now being questioned. Much like the Murden's case, is it any wonder that we are thinking that money in the form of compensation is the real motive for the drive to keep the matter in the public eye.”
by Malcolm, Humberside
Sunday, June 15 2008, 6:22PM
“The Police responded to an emergency situation and were confronted by a man driving dangerously by travelling the wrong way on a dual carriageway, the man then gets out of his vehicle wielding a sword and approaches officers who use baton rounds to try and stop him. The man continues and officers are left with little option but to use lethal force.
I understand that his parents are very upset at the death of their child but it really is a time to draw a line under this unfortunate episode. Nothing they can do will bring their son back but they can do something to try and reach peace with themselves. But pursuing this pointless media campaign with threats of legal proceedings will lead these parents to become embittered and twisted individuals.
It is now time for the Hull Daily Mail to move on to and to stop giving publicity to something that many people no longer wish to hear about.”
by Malcolm, Humberside
Sunday, June 15 2008, 6:19PM
“This is a very sad case and the first time, I believe, that Humberside Police have ever shot and killed someone. This fact alone speaks volumes for the restraint of our local Police.
But, anytime anyone is shot dead by Police it does warrant an investigation, especially after the fiasco of the Jean Charles de Menezes case. Unlike the de Menezes case there has never been any hint of a conspiracy to hide the truth; the Police, unfortunately, had to do a very difficult job.
This poor young man was having a psychotic episode and behaving in a way that put members of the public and the Police in danger of their lives. His parents sought the help of Police because of his behaviour and they would not have done this unless he was a danger to himself and/or others.”
by deanwho, hull
Sunday, June 15 2008, 10:38AM
“Steve Lincoln, 'The whole episode from the arrival of the police took seconds, barely enough time for a warning to be given and Simon to react, before being executed.' You infer that the police turned up and just opened fire with live rounds, read the facts, unless you where there and saw something different, the police turn up and give a verbal warning fire baton rounds and when that failed to stop him a further verbal warning then open fire with live rounds. Hardly 'not having time to react' if you were holding an item in your hand and armed officers told you to put it down would you or would you ignore them? The family failed their son and now they are looking for someone else to blame but themselves. As for the cost of the legal proceedings here's a thought all those people who think it is not a waste of money, pay towards the court costs and all those that don't, do not have to pay.”