THE family of a Ukrainian man who died following a police shooting want a coroner to consider how officers interact with people who don’t speak English as their first language.    

Sergii Kuzmenko died at a property on Borland Avenue in Botcherby, Carlisle, on December 19, 2022.

A pre-inquest review hearing held at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard the 40-year-old died from ‘multiple bullet wounds’.

Kirsty Gomersal, area coroner for Cumbria, outlined the scope of the inquest, which will look at the circumstances of how Mr Kuzmenko came about his death.

Ms Gomersal said the hearing would consider what happened on December 19, 2022 and the deployment of armed officers to Mr Kuzmenko’s home.

The beliefs held by two officers, known as ‘Officer C’ and ‘Officer L’ before and when they discharged their weapons, will also be covered, along with the level of force used and the injuries Mr Kuzmenko sustained.

The availability and provision of first aid, Cumbria Police policies and procedures relating to the deployment of armed officers, the training provided to Officers ‘C’ and ‘L’ and the actions taken by police after the incident will also be considered.

Leila Benyounes, for Mr Kuzenko’s family, said the communication and understanding by police officers during a telephone call made by Mr Kuzenko’s sister and the interactions at the property between the officers, Mr Kuzenko, and his sister, should form part of the inquest.

Ms Benyounes also invited the coroner to consider policies which relate to interactions with those where English is not a first language or those who don’t speak or understand English.

Ms Gomersal said it had not yet been determined if she would sit alone or with a jury. She said a coroner’s inquest is ‘inquisitorial’ and if sitting alone, she could give ‘detailed reasons’ on how matters have been determined.

Ms Gomersal said Mr Kuzenko’s family and the public may benefit from the ‘detailed reasoning’ that only a coroner sitting alone can make.

Ms Gomersal said she also intended to play the officers’ body-worn footage during the inquest but this may need to be pixilated if the police officers are granted anonymity.

Witnesses expected to give evidence at the inquest are Officers ‘C’ and ‘L’, the chief inspector of Cumbria Constabulary, and the director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Both Officers ‘C’ and ‘L’ have made applications for anonymity but these are yet to be determined.  

A date has not been set for the full inquest to take place but Ms Gomersal said it was her provisional view that it would be held at Cumbria House in Carlisle.

Another pre-inquest review hearing is expected to be held in the meantime.