September 14, 2025
Ashley v Sussex Police [2008] EWHC 3151 (QB) (19 December 2008)
Following the fatal police shooting of James Ashley, his family pursued a civil claim for assault and battery, despite the police admitting negligence. The court ruled it was not an abuse of process to seek a verdict on the battery claim for vindication. Facts On 15 January 1998, during a police raid on his flat, Mr James Ashley was shot and killed by a police constable (‘PC Sherwood’). At the time, Mr Ashley was naked and unarmed. Mr Ashley’s father and son (‘the claimants’) brought a civil action against the Chief Constable of Sussex Police (‘the defendant’) for damages. The
