Bennett 'gun' felt real, says hostage

Derek Bennett was shot dead by police chasing him after he grabbed a passer-by and held a gunshaped lighter to his head, an inquest heard today.

Decorator John Knightly, 52, told the inquest he had thought a real gun was being pressed to his temple.

He said: "I could see it out of the side of my eye. It looked like a gun and he put it to my right temple."

As Mr Knightly wrestled with 29-year-old Mr Bennett, two police marksmen levelled their guns and shouted at Mr Bennett to let the man go, Inner London Crown Court heard.

As he broke free and tried to escape, Mr Knightly heard shots as police opened fire. "I heard four shots. I did not see anything. There were two shots first and two a couple of seconds later."

Mr Bennett, from Brixton, was killed in the shooting in July 2001.

Mr Knightly said he had been on the first-floor walkway outside flats on the Angel estate in Brixton when he saw Mr Bennet being chased by the officers and was grabbed by him.

After the shooting Mr Knightly said he picked up two bullet casings he found on the balcony.

The inquest has heard that officers believed father-of-four Mr Bennett was armed with a silver handgun, but he was later found to be holding a gunshaped novelty lighter.

The hearing continues.