Family of Mark Duggan Lost Confidence

The family of Mark Duggan - who was shot by police in Tottenham sparking the riots in August - say they've lost confidence in the investigation into his death.

Lawyers acting for the family of Mark Duggan - whose death sparked the August riots - have told a coroner there has been a "complete breakdown in confidence" in the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A pre-inquest hearing has been held into Mr Duggan's death at the Barnet Coroner's Court.

The lead investigator for the police watchdog has been forced to admit that a "mistake" was made when information was released suggesting that Duggan had shot at officers first.

In fact the gun originally linked to Mark Duggan was found 14ft away from the crime scene, on the other side of a fence. Neither his DNA, blood or fingerprints were found on it.

It has been suggested that it may have been thrown there by a police officer.

Michael Mansfield QC, who is representing the 29 year old's family, grilled the IPCC representative, Colin Sparrow, over why there has been so little information given to the Duggan family over what happened.

"The problem for the family is a complete breakdown in confidence for this investigation.

"While normally this question might not have to be asked because confidence is automatic, on this occasion, from the beginning, there has been misinformation, a lack of information, and conflicting information."

Mr Mansfield criticised the fact that the family had been denied the interim pathology report as well as information about  the trajectory of the bullet that killed Mark Duggan - which would indicate the position he and the officer who fire had been stood.

Mr Mansfield accused the IPCC of being "obstructive", but Mr Sparrow answered that the police watchdog did not feel it was "appropriate" to give Mr Duggan's family this information while the inquiry is still ongoing.