PC Yvonne Fletcher shooting: former Gaddafi aide found jointly liable for officer’s death 37 years ago

A retired police officer who cradled his colleague Yvonne Fletcher as she lay dying has said his promise to find those responsible for her fatal shooting is “now fulfilled”

Former Colonel Gaddafi aide Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk has been found jointly liable for the death of the police officer in 1984, which happened while she was policing a demonstration against Gaddafi in central London.

The judgement comes after Fletcher’s former colleague, John Murray, brought a civil case against Mabrouk as part of an attempt to find “justice”, which he had promised for his friend on her deathbed.

At a glance: 5 key points

• PC Yvonne Fletcher, 25, died after she was shot while policing a protest against Colonel Gaddafi outside the Libyan embassy in St James’s Square in London in April 1984
• Shots had been fired from the embassy window during the demonstration and Fletcher was struck by a bullet
• John Murray, Fletcher’s colleague and friend, promised Fletcher that he would find the person responsible for her death
• He brought a civil case for an amount of £1 against Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, which Murray has now won
• Alongside bearing the responsibility for the death of Fletcher, Mr Justice Martin Spencer also said that “those responsible for the shooting of Yvonne Fletcher also bear liability” to Murray

What happened to Yvonne Fletcher?

On 17 April, 1984, both PC Yvonne Fletcher and her colleague John Murray were policing a demonstration outside the Libyan embassy in London.

During the protest, a gun was fired from the window of the embassy into the crowd, and PC Fletcher was struck by a bullet.

At the three-day trial at the Royal Courts of Justice, Mr Murray said that he had promised is colleague on her deathbed that he would find those responsible for the shots fired from the window.

After years of searching for justice for PC Fletcher, Murray brought a civil suit against an ex-aide of Colonel Gaddafi named Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk for an amount of only £1.

Lawyers for Mr Murray accused Mr Mabrouk, who denied any wrongdoing, of being “jointly liable” for the shooting, arguing that, while he did not fire any shots, he was “instrumental” in the “orchestration” of a plan to use violence at the protest.

What happened at the court hearing?

The judge told the court PC Fletcher died as a result of “a cowardly attack” when gunmen armed with Sterling submachine guns opened fire from the first-floor windows of the embassy.

The judge added there seemed to be “little doubt” that the actions of the gunmen were “orchestrated and sanctioned” by Col Gaddafi.

Mr Justice Martin Spencer said evidence presented showed that Mabrouk was an “active participant” in a “common deign to fire upon the demonstrators.”

He said: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there existed a common design to respond to the planned anti-Gaddafi protest by using violence.

“Mr Murray has succeeded in showing that the defendant Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk is jointly liable with those who carried out the shooting of Yvonne Fletcher, for the battery inflicted upon her”.

The judge also said that Mabrouk was liable for the mental state of Mr Murray, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the death of his friend and colleague.

Mabrouk had previously been arrested for the death of PC Fletcher in 2015, before he was released by the Met Police after they said that key evidence had been kept secret to protect national security.

However, during the civil hearing, Mr Murray’s lawyers relied on disclosed information from the Met Police’s investigations, a ballistics report, transcripts form the inquest into Fletcher’s death and photos from the scenes.

Upon awarding the damages to Mr Murray, the judges said that the award was “to vindicate his 37 year fight to bring justice to at least one of those responsible for the death of his colleague.”

What has the reaction to the ruling been?

Upon Mr Justice Martin Spencer ruling that Mabrouk was liable for PC Fletcher’s death, applause was heard in the courtroom, with Mr Murray breaking down in tears upon hearing the ruling.

In a statement following the ruling, Mr Murray said: “I am very relieved that it’s finally all over and the court has found in our favour.

“This has been a battle lasting 37 years. It is a huge weight off my shoulders. My promise to Yvonne Fletcher to find those responsible for the shooting and to get justice has taken a huge step forward after all these years.

“This trial over the last few days should not have been necessary. If you go back six years ago to Mabrouk’s arrest, a report was submitted by the police to the CPS recommending he be prosecuted. The CPS agreed with that report.

“We have faced many obstacles to get here. But, today, we have proven that we were right all along. Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk was responsible for Yvonne’s death. Everything we have done leading up to this verdict has been for Yvonne. Today we have finally achieved justice for Yvonne.”

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