Former police officer to be charged with murder of Azelle Rodney who died after being shot by police nine years ago

A former police officer is to be charged with the murder of robbery suspect Azelle Rodney in a landmark prosecution, it was revealed today.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced it would be bringing the charge against the marksman - who has only been identified as E7 - nine years after Mr Rodney died.
It is only the third time charges have been brought for murder against an officer while on duty.
The charge comes after a damning three-month public inquiry, chaired by a former High Court judge, concluded that Mr Rodney's killing was not justified.
At the time of his death in 2005, police were carrying out an operation to move in on Mr Rodney, who was wanted for a double stabbing in Ealing.
The officer who fired the shots - who was granted anonymity during the public inquiry - claimed he feared the suspect was about to fire a submachine gun.
But during the inquiry into the young man's death, Sir Christopher Holland said the officer's account of what happened was 'not accepted'.
Today, Mr Rodney's mother Susan Alexander said she hoped the prosecution - which comes nine years after her son's death - would lead to 'justice'.
She said: 'I am very pleased at the CPS's decision to prosecute the officer who killed my son.
'I have waited a long time to see this day and hope this prosecution will lead to justice for Azelle.'
Mr Rodney died in Edgware, north London, when officers stopped the VW Golf in which he was travelling with two other men. More...(PIX)

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Police opened fire within a second of coming to a halt beside the trio's Golf, hitting Mr Rodney six times in less than eight seconds. He was hit once each in the arm and back, and four times in the head.
Announcing the charge, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: 'Azelle Rodney died after the discharge of a police firearm on 30 April 2005.
'Following the outcome of the public inquiry, the Independent Police Complaints Commission re-referred the matter to the CPS, providing us with the evidence previously gathered and the further evidence and material which has emerged since the initial referral.


'We have carefully considered the new file of evidence submitted to us and have decided that a former Metropolitan Police officer, currently identified only as E7, will be prosecuted for murder. The individual currently has anonymity.
'The decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.'
The officer will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 10.
In the findings from the public inquiry, Sir Christopher's ruling contradicted independent investigators who had previously looked into the case.