Duggan's Mother: My Son Was Assassinated

The mother of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police officers in north London last summer, has claimed her son was 'assassinated'.

Mr Duggan, 29, was shot dead while police officers were trying to arrest him in Tottenham shortly before the riots last August.

Mother Pamela Duggan told Sky News: "I don't say killed, I say assassinated, because he was."

However, last summer the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) categorically denied that the death was an "assassination".

Mrs Duggan has said she and her family have many unanswered questions about the shooting.

"Why was he surrounded by 31 officers? Why was he shot twice? Why was the cab moved from the scene, taken away and brought back? They can't answer me."

Mr Duggan's aunt, Carole Duggan, told Sky News: "Some people would say the police wouldn't shoot anybody for nothing. He must have done something. But it has been proved that he hadn't got a gun, he didn't have a gun in his possession.

"Furthermore, he was going about his business - he was going home on his own."

The Duggan family spoke to Sky News a year after the shooting but they say they have been consistently let down by those responsible for investigating the death.

Exactly what happened that evening is still being investigated by the IPCC.

The family are dismayed that the police officers involved in the operation cannot be compelled to be interviewed over what happened.

Both the Metropolitan Police and the IPCC have apologised to the family for failing to keep them properly informed during their investigations.

Carole Duggan added: "The IPCC and the Metropolitan Police have just made so many blunders and have had to apologise on so many occasions that we have just lost trust and faith in both."

Their long wait for answers is likely to stretch well into next year because the inquest into Mark Duggan's death is scheduled to begin next January.

Mr Duggan's father, Bruno Hall, died last month without finding out the truth about his son's death.

Pamela Duggan said: "I have to live on, for my other son and my grandchildren. I have lost two people so special in my life in the last 12 months. This is through what has happened to Mark."

The family plan to hold a day of remembrance this Sunday to mark the anniversary of Mr Duggan's death.