Last updated at 10:27, Monday, 28 January 2013

EXPERTS on the use of Tasers and their effects are giving evidence at the inquest for a Barrow dad who died after one of the weapons was used on him four times.

Dale Burns, 27, died on August 16, 2011, after he was Tasered in his Hartington Street flat. 

At his inquest in Kendal today, the police's lead officer for Tasers is giving evidence, as well as a representative from the US company that makes them. 

Deputy chief constable Simon Chesterman, of West Mercia police, was the first witness to give evidence today. He leads the working group on "less lethal weapons" for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). 

The inquest is also due to hear from Michael Brave, of Taser International. 

DCC Chesterman said the introduction of the Taser was intended to add to a "range of options" police had for dealing with suspects without resorting to firearms. 

He said in many cases the Taser's "mere presence" was enough of a deterrent to enable people to be arrested without violence. 

On Friday the inquest into Mr Burns’s death heard from Gavin McNamee, who was an emergency medical technician for North West Ambulance Service at the time.

He described how he and paramedic Julian Anderson were requested to go to the flat by police about 6.40pm. They were met by PC Rachael Sheppard. Mr Burns had not been tasered at this point. PC Sheppard went into the flat to say the ambulance had arrived.

Mr McNamee said: “The female police officer came back down to us and said ‘You are not needed any more’.”

On Thursday PC Sheppard told the inquest the decision had been made that it was too dangerous for paramedics to treat Mr Burns due to his behaviour, but said she had not told them they were not required.

After the ambulance crew left, Mr Burns was tasered and sprayed with PAVA spray by police, before being driven to FGH in a police van. He went into cardiac arrest at FGH and was pronounced dead at 8.41pm.

Mr Jonathan Hough, counsel to inquest, asked Mr McNamee: “Is it possible she said ‘You can’t go in there now’ rather than ‘You are not needed’?”

“No”, Mr McNamee replied. He said if he had been aware it was an emergency medical situation he would usually have stayed on the scene.

The inquest has heard Mr Burns was driven to hospital in the police van, without an accompanying ambulance, and via a route that went through Ormsgill rather than the more direct route via Abbey Road.

“It’s not a route I would have taken,” Mr McNamee said.

The inquest continues. 

First published at 13:15, Sunday, 27 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk