A court heard how Simon Murden, 26, was hit six times with live rounds on the A63, west of Hull, in 2005.

Neil Cameron, counsel for the inquest in Hull, said armed police had been called in following reports he may have been carrying a firearm after he crashed his van on the busy route.

In a brief introduction to the jury, Mr Cameron said officers were alerted by Mr Murden's father in the early hours of March 22, 2005, who was worried his son may have been suffering from a "psychotic incident".

He said he had smashed up his room at their home in Beverley and left over the roof.

His father told officers his son had suffered from a psychotic incident in the past and he was also concerned he may have taken an African sword with him.

Mr Cameron said Mr Murden drove towards Hull in blue Ford Transit van and then on to the A63, heading away from the city.
At one stage he was driving on the wrong side of the carriageway, he said.

Mr Cameron said that about two-thirds of mile from where he was shot, Mr Murden was in collision with a car.

He said he got into this car but then out again, setting off walking down the main road.

Mr Cameron said a police officer in the vicinity and other people reported Mr Murden was carrying something which may have been a firearm.

He said one person described him as "carrying something that may be a weapon and, in particular, may be a firearm".

Mr Cameron said two armed officers, named only as Officer C and Officer D, arrived at the scene in the same car.

He said Officer C was carrying a "carbine" and a pistol. Officer D was carrying a baton gun and a pistol.

Mr Cameron told the 11-strong jury they would hear detailed reports about what happened next.

But he said that at this stage in the hearing he just wanted to establish the following points:

The first was that Officer D fired two baton rounds.

The second was that a total of 10 further shots were fired - nine from Officer C's carbine and one from Officer D's pistol.

The third was that of these 10 live rounds, six caused injuries to Mr Murden - five from the carbine and one from the pistol.
And fourthly, Mr Cameron said: "Simon Murden was found to have three African swords with him that he had taken out of the van and carried with him as he walked along the A63."

The inquest in Hull, which resumed this morning, is expected to last up to seven weeks.

The inquest continues.

The Beverley Guardian will bring you regular updates and a full resume of the week's proceedings in Friday's Beverley Guardian.