Police officers who shot a man dead have been granted anonymity at the upcoming inquest after warning their safety would be put at risk if their identities were revealed.

Sergii Kuzmenko was killed by two firearms officers from Cumbria Police when they were called to a house in Carlisle in December 2022, following reports of a man making threats to kill while a young child was present.

Following a series of hearings in Cockermouth, the acting senior coroner for Cumbria, Kirsty Gomersal, ruled in favour of the pair.

She said the decision would not prevent the inquest being fair, adding: "They will need to explain the reason for discharging their weapon."

The officers were also granted a request to give evidence behind a screen.

Forty-year-old Mr Kuzmenko, who was Ukrainian, died from "multiple" wounds after bullets were fired by the officers, referred to as C and L, on Borland Avenue, in the Botcherby area of the city, on 19 December.

At earlier hearings, their legal representatives argued that while there was no threat to the officers' lives, they and their families would be affected in terms of the stigma surrounding the incident.

They also said the officers' ability to progress in their profession and take on covert roles would be affected.

'Full, fair and fearless'

Mr Kuzmenko's family opposed the order and members of the Press, including the BBC, submitted requests for the orders not to be granted.

In her written judgement, Ms Gomersal said four other armed officers who were at the scene when Mr Kuzmenko died should also remain anonymous to avoid officers C and L from being identified through what is known as jigsaw identification.

She said the inquest would be high-profile "with significant Press attendance" and that identification of an officer working in a covert role could compromise the safety of the people they were assigned to protect - "potentially defeating the purpose" of such an assignment.

She added she had "balanced the need for restriction against the importance of open justice" and that the inquest would "still be full, fair and fearless".

A date for the full hearing, which will take place in front of a jury, has not yet been set.

When they give their evidence, officers C and L will be seen only by the coroner, jury members, legal representatives, Mr Kuzmenko's sister and an interpreter.

Should the four other officers give testimony, the coroner said she would decide whether they too should be screened.

Bodyworn video from Officer C and two colleagues referred to as R and T will be played with the face of the child pixelated.

An audio recording of the 999 call made by Mr Kuzmenko's sister, Luidmyla Hedley, will also be played. (BBC)

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