Retired police officer won today’s High Court application to jointly hold Colonel Muammar Gulafi’s ex-aide liable for killing Pc Yvonne Fletcher, 37 years ago.
25-year-old Pc. Fletcher was killed during a protest against former Libyan leader, outside the country’s Embassy in St James’s Square. This occurred on April 17th 1984.
Her former colleague John Murray, 66, brought a civil claim for a nominal amount of £1 against Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk as part of his decades-long attempt to find ‘justice’ for his dead friend.
Murray’s lawyers accused Mr Mabrouk of being ‘jointly responsible’ for the shooting. He claimed that he didn’t fire any shots but was an ‘instrumental in the orchestration’ of violence against the protest.
A judge agreed today and stated that the evidence showed Mr Mabrouk was an active participant in a common design to attack demonstrators.
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s former aide Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk was today found to me jointly liable for the fatal shooting of Pc Yvonne Fletcher in 1984
Former officer Mr Murray, 66, brought a civil claim for a nominal amount of £1 against Mabrouk as part of his decades-long attempt to find ‘justice’ for his dead friend
The trial lasted three days at the Royal Courts of Justice, London. Mr Murray was suffering from post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and sought ‘vindicatory damage’ for assaulting and battery.
A court was told that Murray (Chingford, east London) promised to his dying friend that he would hunt down the people responsible for firing shots out of an embassy windows.
This morning Mr Justice Martin Spencer gave his judgement. He stated that Mr Murray is also liable for those who were responsible for the killing of Yvonne Fletcher.
He said, “I’m satisfied that there was a shared design to use violence to address the anti-Gaddafi demonstration.”
He stated that he had succeeded in showing Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, the defendant in the shooting death of Yvonne Fletcher was jointly liable in the Battery inflicted on her.
A packed courtroom listened to the ruling of the judge, and Mr Murray shed tears when it was read.
Following the decision, Murray stated that he had finally done justice to Yvonne.
He stated, “I’m relieved it’s over and that the court has ruled in our favor.”
“This battle lasted 37 years. This is an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders. After all the years, I have made a significant step towards fulfilling my promise to Yvonne Fletcher that I would find and bring to justice those who were responsible for this shooting.
Pc. Fletcher (25), was killed in an attack on the Libyan former leader while police were policing outside of his country’s St James’s Square embassy.
“This trial in the past few days shouldn’t have been necessary. Six years ago, Mabrouk was arrested. A report from the police recommended that he be tried. CPS accepted that report.
“But, due to late interference by the Home Office or Foreign Office when they refused vital evidence to being used, the prosecution didn’t go ahead.”
Disgraceful interference by the government in the judiciary process
“We faced many challenges to reach this point. We have proved that we had been right all the way. Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk is responsible for Yvonne’s death. All of our actions leading to the verdict have been in support of Yvonne. Today, we finally got justice for Yvonne.
PC Fletcher is lying on her stomach on the sidewalk outside of the Libyan Peoples Bureau. Officers try to first aid her