Man shot by police 'aimed fake gun at me'

Moments before a man was shot dead by police he had pointed what appeared to be a gun at a passer-by, an inquest heard today.

Andrew Harvey told how Derek Bennett, 29, asked him: "Are you talking to me?" before pointing the "gun" at him. Police later found it was a silver novelty cigarette lighter.

Mr Harvey told the inquest: "It happened very quickly. I tried not to look at him... I just said 'no mate'. I noticed he had a gun in his hand and he extended it towards me from just seven feet. I tried not to make eye contact and when I got to the bottom of the ramp police were there and I told them 'there is a fellow up there with a gun'."

Earlier the inquest was told how a council cleaner heard the officers fire at Mr Bennett six times, on the first-floor walkway of flats in Loughborough Road, Brixton.

Stephen Adejuwon said he knew Mr Bennett and had spoken to him moments before the shooting. Mr Adejuwon said he heard what he thought were firecrackers, then saw Mr Bennett lying face-up, with two police near him with automatic weapons.

The hearing continues.