Azelle Rodney, a 24-year-old father to be, was killed by six shots fired by a police officer in Edgeware, London in April 2005.

Now, after over nine years of campaigning, the officer who opened fire on the Londoner is finally going to court for murder. It's a landmark case for campaigners for death at the hands of police, such as the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC).

Azelle was on the way back from the barber's when fourteen armed police stopped the car in which he was a passenger. Other officers fired at the tyres of the car and the trigger-happy marksman - granted anonymity and known only as E7 - fired 8 bullets at Azelle. One each struck him in the arm and back, and four fatally wounded him in the head. Azelle was unarmed. The police did not tell Azelle's mother until 24 hours later. The other two occupants of the car were later convicted of firearms offences.

The CPS decided not to prosecute in 2006, but Azelle's family fought on. The initial coroner's inquest was incomplete - police withheld a lot of evidence to cover their arses. Eventually the evidence was made public, and an inquiry in 2012 concluded that E7 had "no lawful justification" for opening fire, there was no reason to believe that Azelle was armed, and that four shots in the head was "disproportionate". It also emerged that E7 had previously killed two others in the late eighties and injured two more.

The Crown Prosecution Service have now announced they will charge E7, who is has retired from the Metropolitan Police. He will be appearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday September 10th.

No justice, no peace...

http://azellerodney-campaigfojustice.moonfruit.com/#