An inquest jury watched today as a father-of-2 was shot to death by a ricocheting officer bullet.
Trevor Smith, 52 years old, was shot once in his bedroom at a block of flats in Birmingham city centre. Armed officers stormed his residence to detain he in the early hours March 15, 2019.
The shot ricocheted off Mr Smith’s bedframe and struck him. On the spot, a replica firearm was found.
The inquest began with jurors being told that Mr Smith was trying to arrest him after he claimed he was threatening his ex partner.
Police were informed by the ex-girlfriend that a gun was placed on her head by the father of two before they split up and that he sent intimate videos to friends after their January 2019 split.
Trevor Smith, 52 years old, was shot once in his bedroom at a block of flats in Birmingham city centre. Armed officers stormed his residence to detain he in the early hours March 15, 2019.
In footage captured by armed officers, police repeatedly exhorted Mr Smith to get out the flat and show him his hands.
In footage captured by body-worn video cameras of armed officers, police repeatedly exhorted Mr Smith to get out the flat and show him his hands.
At one point Mr Smith tells an officer: ‘I don’t give a f**k, mate’.
He is told by police that he is now being stupid and that there’s no reason to.
Officers ask him to show them his hands again. He can be seen standing behind the bed with his duvet covering one side.
One officer tells him that he would rather not put a dog on him or Taser him. He prefers that he just come to the door.
‘We are going cuffing you, we aren’t going to make it look stupid, we’ll make sure you have a blanket and then work from there. Trevor, Trevor! Come on, mate.
The police dog is brought up to the flat and a gunshot rings. He is then asked if it is okay for him to come to the door.
Later, officers are seen performing CPR on Mr Smith in a block’s communal corridor.
Jurors were informed at the beginning of the inquest that Mr Smith was wanted by firearms officers to arrest him after he claimed he had threatened his ex-partner
The shot ricocheted off Mr Smith’s mattress before striking him. The inquest at Birmingham Coroner’s Court was told. A replica firearm was recovered from the scene.
The inquest began with jurors hearing that Mr Smith was threatened by his ex-partner and that he attempted to have him arrested by firearms officers.
Police interviewed the ex-girlfriend and found out that a gun was placed on her head by the father-of-2 before they split in January 2019. He also sent ‘intimate videos’ of her to friends following their breakup.
Louise Hunt, senior coroner, gave the 10-member jury a summary about the evidence they would hear over the next three to 4 weeks at the beginning of the hearing.
She stated that Mr Smith had recently split with his partner.
“She reported to police that he was threatening to kill her.
‘Part of those threats that you will hear in the evidence involved an incident in which she stated in November 2018 a gun was put on her head.
She stated that on January 9, 2019, he sent her an SMS message via WhatsApp, which showed a gun mounted on a white sofa and contained a threat-laden message.
“As a result (of the complaint made) by his ex-partner, West Midlands Police decided that Mr Smith was arrested at his home address in the early hours March 15, 2019. You will hear that it is a block in Wheeleys Lane.
Six armed officers raided Mr Smith’s apartment at the fourth floor of the city center flat after receiving intelligence reports that Mr Smith had threatened someone with an alleged firearm.
Right, Mr Smith appears in a documentary on football hooliganism with Danny Dyer
“The firearms officers were to lead the arrest because Mr Smith was suspected to be in possession a firearm.”
Ms Hunt explained to the jury that Mr Smith was at the end the bed with a duvet in front of him. One of his arms is not visible.
“The sequence then is a dog arriving on the corridor (and) barking.
“Soon after Mr Smith drops the duvet, and one of his legs moves.
“Very soon after, one firearms officer discharges his weapon. One shot is fired.
“It hits the bedframe, and ricochets into Mr Smith, causing fatal injury.”
Ms Hunt stated that a black imitation firearm was found on the scene. In the body-worn footage, what appears to be a handgun can be seen on Mr Smith’s mattress, though the jury has yet to hear evidence about where it was at the time police opened fire.
Jurors were informed that Mr Smith’s ex-partner received a WhatsApp message from him shortly after they ended their relationship in January 2019. It showed a ‘black gun’ and he was allegedly heard saying ‘watch me do’.
After receiving two’sympathy cards’ with her photograph and the message: ‘RIP. You’re always in our minds – not’, she filed a second police complaint in March 2019.
Lorna Webley Smith, his sister, read a family obituary at the inquest. It described Mr Smith as a very bright, talented and innovative individual’, known for his’sharp sense of dress’ and ‘forever changing his own clothes’.
Ms Webley stated that the death was beyond comprehension, adding that “Trevor’s life matters and he didn’t deserve to lose it this way.”
“One Friday morning, someone took my brother’s life in three seconds.
“At this time, we cannot explain any good cause for his passing.”
She expressed deep regret for the loss of an avid Birmingham City fan.
The inquest into the death Mr Smith, a van driver, and one of five brothers, continues.