Inquest into man shot by Surrey Police adjourned

An inquest into the death a man who died after being shot by Surrey Police has been opened and adjourned.

Joel Stenning, 29, died four days after the incident in Nursery Road, Knaphill, on 11 August.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a post-mortem at Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford had given a provisional cause of death as complications of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

At the Coroner's Court in Woking on Tuesday, coroner Simon Wickens adjourned the inquest for three months to allow for the IOPC to finish their investigation.

Mr Wickens offered his condolences to Mr Stenning's father Gary and his partner Maia McWilliams, who attended the hearing.

Police were called to reports of an altercation between two people, one of whom was said to be carrying a firearm, at about 00:30 BST.

The IOPC, which is investigating following a mandatory referral from the force, said armed officers arrived shortly afterwards and approached the address.

“Police body-worn footage shows officers calling for the occupant of the address to come to the door with nothing in their hands,” the IOPC said.

"The man opened the door and appeared to point a weapon in the officers’ direction.”

The IOPC said one shot was fired by a firearms officer, which struck Mr Stenning shortly after 01:20.

It said a police baton round was also discharged, and officers provided immediate first aid while an ambulance was requested.

The investigating body said "a non-police issue weapon" was also found at the scene and has been seized.

Mr Stenning died on 15 August at St George's Hospital in Tooting, London, and was identified by his mother, Sandra.

In an earlier statement, IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “At this early stage, all officers are being treated as witnesses, which means that there is currently no indication of potential misconduct or criminality by any officer.”

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