The police marksman who shot Mark Duggan has described the seconds before he opened fire as an "Oh f*** moment".
Duggan, 29, whose death sparked widespread riots last year, was "absolutely 100%" holding a handgun, Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London heard.
The officer, known as V53, told the trial of Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, who is accused of providing Duggan with a handgun minutes before he was killed on 4 August last year, that he fired two bullets at him.
"The subject was holding a handgun. Mark Duggan was holding a handgun in his right hand," he said.
Mark Duggan, whose death sparked the summer riots last year
"He was holding the pistol-grip of the gun. I could make out the shape, the outline, of the gun.
"I could make out the trigger-guard and the barrel. The size of the object he was carrying was of a similar size to the handgun I carry operationally.
"I was aware of previous police incidents in which criminals carry handguns in socks, and there is a black sock covering the firearm Mark Duggan is carrying in his right hand.
"It is side-on to his stomach.
"The only way I can describe this is it was, if I may, my lord, apologise to the jury, an 'oh f*** moment'. He's got a gun and he's going to use it on me."
Duggan's death preceded days of clashes between the public and police
The marksman, who gave evidence from behind a screen, has been a police officer for more than 15 years, an authorised firearms officer since 2003, and with CO19 since 2005.
He has been working with covert armed response vehicles since 2009, and said he has been involved in "hundreds" of police firearms operations, both spontaneous and planned.
He said: "4 August will always be in my head. It's very clear, even now."
Hutchinson-Foster is on trial accused of passing the gun to Duggan that same day.
The 30-year-old, of no fixed abode, is charged with "selling or transferring a prohibited firearm" to Mr Duggan between 28 July and 5 August 2011.
He denies passing the modified BBM Bruni Model 92 handgun to Mr Duggan, contrary to the Firearms Act 1968.
SEE ALSO:
Comments are closed for legal reasons