A BALLISTICS expert has told an inquest jury that a man who was shot dead by a police marksman had been firing a crossbow that was unlikely to kill anyone.

Paul Olden said the crossbow Keith Richards was firing from the bedroom window of his home in Cheapside, Shildon, County Durham, had the characteristics of a low powered air weapon.

Mr Olden said such a weapon was capable of lethal force, however unlikely, but it had been impossible for officers at the scene, on May 12, 2009, to make an assessment.

Mr Richards, 47, was heavily intoxicated that night, worried about debt and remonstrating with police that a pending drink-driving charge would ruin his life. He was described as abusive and told police they would have to kill him or he would take his own life. He also threatened to kill a police officer.

Mr Olden told the jury yesterday that at least ten crossbow bolts were recovered from the scene but he could not say if they were all fired that night.

The jury heard that a steel crossbow tip was found embedded in a fence that two unarmed police officers had been using for cover.

The father-of-two was shot by armed response officers, shortly afterwards. They both told the jury Mr Richards took aim at them and both believed he could have killed them.

Mr Olden said, in tests, when he fired the crossbow at a police stab vest, from three metres, five three-inch long bolts “bounced off” and one embedded itself.

The jury heard armed response officers were wearing superior body armour, and helmets capable of withstanding gunshots but that the capability against crossbow bolts was untested.

Mr Olden said a bullet which passed through Mr Richards’ left wrist and went into his neck was consistent with him being shot as he aimed at officers with a lefthanded stance.

Mr Richards, a former classroom assistant, was a competent shot, enjoyed clay pigeon shooting and had been seen many times shooting righthanded, the jury has heard.

Mr Olden said a second bullet, which passed through Mr Richards’ torso and was lodged in a wall, enabled him to calculate where he was standing the moment he was shot.

He said in order for Mr Richards to have hit the armed officers, who claimed he was aiming at them, he would have either had to lean out of his window or adopt a left-handed stance.

The hearing, at the Work Place, Newton Aycliffe, continues on Monday.