Inquest begins into joyrider’s shooting

Inquest begins into joyrider’s shooting

6 April 2016

A CORONER is to begin inquest proceedings later this week into the shooting dead of a man by the PSNI in Ballynahinch 10 years ago.

Twenty three year-old Steven Colwell was in a stolen BMW car when he tried to drive away from a police checkpoint outside Ballynahinch police station on April 16, 2006.

A three-man police patrol had been alerted to the theft of a BMW in a ‘creeper’ burglary and to a general threat from dissident republicans.

Shortly before 11am, as they monitored radio, the officers heard about the movement of the stolen car and 10 minutes later heard it was seven miles away in Seaforde.

The officers believed the car was likely to be travelling towards Ballynahinch and decided to established a checkpoint outside the station in Church Street.

Shortly after setting up the checkpoint, one of the officers caught sight of the BMW in the queue of traffic stopped in Church Street. 

An officer ran towards the car, shouting at the driver to stop but Mr Colwell tried to move the car and drive away.

The policeman moved in front of the car and aimed his gun at the driver, again ordering Mr Colwell to stop the car and get out.

A report by the Police Ombudsman said at this stage the engine revved and the car lurched forward with its tyres screeching.

The officer fired two shots. The first went through the windscreen and the second through the driver’s window. 

Mr Colwell got out of the car and collapsed and despite the efforts of medical personnel, he was pronounced dead the scene.

The police officer said he could not get out of the car’s way in time and believed his only option was to open fire if he were to save his life.

Many of the 30 witness statements made by members of the public support the police actions but forensic evidence contradicted the police officer’s account.

The Police Ombudsman found that the actions of the policeman were “critically flawed.” He said the officer drawing his gun at an early stage escalated the situation at an early stage.

The Ombudsman said the officer’s actions in discharging two shots created significant risk of further casualties.

The coroner’s inquiry will get underway in Belfast on Thursday morning.