Police hunting an armed fugitive wanted for murder feared he might provoke officers into killing him, an inquest has heard.

William Smith was on the run from police after removing an electronic tag following his release on bail over the killing of Roy Blackman at his home in Biddenden in March 2016.

The inquest into his fatal shooting by armed police in May 2016 heard how senior officers planning the operation to apprehend the 36-year-old builder - also known as Curly Bill - feared he may take his own life or provoke "suicide by cop" rather than be taken alive.

Former Kent Police Inspector Karl Thomas, who now serves with the Ontario police in Canada, gave evidence by video link to the inquest at County Hall in Maidstone and was questioned about his role as the tactical firearms commander responsible for drawing up the initial authorisation for firearms resources.

Christopher Sutton-Mattocks QC, counsel for the inquest, walked the witness through an FA1 form he completed when drawing up contingencies for the deployment of firearms in the quest to bring Smith, a father-of-four from Golford near Cranbrook, back into custody.

"You were being informed Mr Smith is a career criminal with a drug habit and no means of income," Mr Sutton-Mattocks said.

He added: "You note a very real risk the subject may take his own life or cause the police to take it?"

Insp Thomas told the inquest that intelligence pointed to Smith being subject to "emotional or mental distress" which would have potentially affected his actions if confronted by police while at large.

"There is a notion that people can shoot to engage with armed officers to end their lives," he said.

"The way we are trained is to value everybody's life, including those we are trying to bring to justice."

On Tuesday the inquest heard Smith, who had a history of using drugs including cocaine, MDMA and ketamine, might harm himself rather than be arrested by police and was believed "to have in his possession a handgun which he concealed in his trousers".

Completed by Insp Thomas on April 24, a week before Smith was shot and killed on May 1 in Goudhurst, the FA1 form outlined a number of different scenarios in which police might engage with the wanted man. These ranged from him surrendering in person at a police station, right through to armed officers having to storm a building to apprehend him if his location was established.

Firearms officers who eventually surrounded Smith on the evening he was killed say they saw what they believed to be the barrel of a shotgun pointing from behind an upturned chair or sofa.

Four shots were then fired, one hitting Smith above the left eye and two hitting him in the chest. Despite attempts to resuscitate the suspect, he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 9.10pm.

The inquest had earlier heard how DNA evidence had linked Smith to a number of violent, armed burglaries in the months leading up to his death.

A shotgun stolen during a burglary in Northiam was later found near to Smith following his death at the hands of the police, while a barrel from a second was also recovered at the scene.

On Tuesday Leslie Thomas QC, counsel for Smith's family, read to the court a short statement from his widow Nancy, who was in the council chamber along with Smith's father.

"I know that the offences for which he was accused are extremely serious, but like everyone else in this country he was innocent until proven guilty," she said.

The hearing continues.

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