HACKNEY SIEGE DEATH OF ELI HALL

10 Jan 2003 01:15 PM

The independent Police Complaints Authority is to supervise the investigation into the events arising from the death of the man in the Hackney siege.

Last night Metropolitan Police Service officers confirmed that a man was dead, believed to be Mr Ely Hall, aged in his thirties.

The Metropolitan Police Service voluntarily referred the events for supervision of the inquiry shortly after it began on Boxing Day. Metropolitan Police Service officers were reported to have returned fire at Graham Road, Hackney, east London as the siege started.

An officer also returned fire yesterday morning.

PCA member David Petch will supervise the investigation, which will be carried out by a team led by Detective Chief Inspector Tony Evans of the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Professional Standards.

Mr Petch said: "I have been to the scene in Graham Road twice. The terms of reference for the inquiry will be decided when the body has been recovered and the post-mortem has indicated how he died. Although the whole period of the siege is open to scrutiny by the inquiry, at this stage we are planning to concentrate on the events of Boxing Day and yesterday when Mr Hall fired at officers, fire was returned and the house set alight.

"The inquiry will report to H M Coroner so that the inquest can be held.

"Our condolences go to Mr Hall's family who have suffered much since Boxing Day. Our thoughts are also with all of the people who have been affected by this siege, particularly those living in the neighbourhood," said Mr Petch.

ENDS

Note for editors

We do not know whether Mr Hall's first name is spelt Ely or Eli.

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The independent body established by Act of Parliament to oversee complaints by members of the public against the conduct of police officers