Inquest into the death of Mark David BENNETT
Deceased
Mark David Bennett
Demographics
46y, male
Date of death
2012-11-23
Finding date
2014-08-15
Cause of death
Gunshot wound to chest inflicted by NSW police officer
AI-generated summary
Mark David Bennett, 46, died on 23 November 2012 after being shot twice in the chest by Leading Senior Constable Damien Livermore during a police pursuit in Redfern, Sydney. Bennett had stolen a truck and driven it dangerously through busy streets, colliding with a light pole that struck a pedestrian. He refused police commands to exit the vehicle and drove at the officer. The coroner found the shooting lawful and reasonable given the high-stress circumstances, the dangerous driving, and the risk to pedestrians and the officer. Key clinical findings noted Bennett's consumption of methylamphetamine and cannabis, long-standing bipolar disorder, and behavioural evidence of altered mental status (confusion, disordered thinking) in the hours before his death. The coroner rejected recommendations to amend police guidelines but recommended enhanced training on the risks of firing at moving vehicles.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- Methylamphetamine and cannabis intoxication in the hours prior to death
- Bipolar mood disorder
- Altered mental status and confused/disordered behaviour
- Dangerous driving of stolen vehicle
- Non-compliance with police commands
- Vehicle approaching police officer
- Presence of pedestrians in the area at risk of harm from the moving vehicle
Coroner's recommendations
- Develop or improve mandatory police training that emphasises that discharging a firearm at a driver of a vehicle is not an effective means of stopping the vehicle
- Police training should emphasise the extreme risk to innocent bystanders as a result of loss of control of a vehicle when a firearm is discharged at the driver
- Incorporate CCTV footage from this incident into police training packages about the dangers of discharging firearms at moving vehicles
Full text
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