There can be no doubt Keith Richards was in a dark place the night he was killed by police marksmen, but did the warning signs go unnoticed? Chris Fay reports.

The Northern Echo: Keith Richards

WEEKS before Keith Richards became the first person to be killed by Durham Police marksmen, two of his neighbours were talking in the street.

Nicola Wheatley had been stopped by Lorraine Stocks, who accused Mrs Wheatley’s children of firing something that sounded like a catapult at her home.

As the pair spoke they heard the pinging noise again, but investigating police officers, who attended the next day, found nothing to cause serious concern.

The women gave evidence during the father-of-two’s inquest, which concluded yesterday and which ruled that he was lawfully killed in the early hours of May 12, 2009.

Coroner Andrew Tweddle called more than 20 witnesses to give evidence during the inquest at the Work Place, Newton Aycliffe, a hearing that lasted nearly three weeks.

Mr Tweddle was able to build up a picture of Mr Richards who, in the months leading up to his death, was clearly a deeply troubled man.

The inquest heard he suffered from depression and was facing a drink-driving charge after being arrested early on May 6, in Central Avenue, Newton Aycliffe.

He had a debt problem, and he and wife Julie had handed the keys of their Elm Drive home, in Shildon, to the bank voluntarily to avoid repossession.

The pair were living apart because Mr Richards said he did not want his wife answering the door to people demanding repayments, but they were still very much a couple.

Mr Richards’ fledgling business collapsed when thieves stole tools he had been using to repair houses, and he had left a job as a teaching assistant at Windlestone School, near Chilton, for pupils with emotional and behavioural problems.

Mr Tweddle suggested that this could have led to work-related stress issues and police witnesses recalled Mr Richards saying the drink-driving ban would ruin his life.

His brother, Stephen, a retired detective inspector, told the inquest: “I think it is fair to say that, at times, his overall mental health was not what it should have been and he suffered from depression.”

The inquest heard Mr Richards was listed as a member of the police’s special population group following two self-harming incidents.

John Lamb and Karen Parker were the first officers on the scene that night and reported that Mr Richards had fired at them with an air rifle and a crossbow.

They were soon joined by three armed officers who positioned themselves behind a wall, 40 yards behind Mr Richards’ home. Attempts to engage him failed.

He was described, during the inquest, as wailing and moaning as he remonstrated with police, accusing them of having ruined his life.

“You are going to have to kill us or I will kill myself,” he is reported to have said at one point, before shooting his crossbow at the three armed police officers, two of whom returned fire.

It marked the end for Keith Richards, but the start of a lengthy investigation, which is only now resolved.