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CONTROVERSIAL SHOOTING: George Asare

A JURY has said a man, who was shot five times and tasered by the police, is not guilty of attacking officers because he was mentally ill at the time.

George Asare, from Forest Hill, south-east London, was found not guilty of attempted of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) with intent and affray earlier today (Nov 2).

Asare was found not guilty by reason of insanity of affray, three counts of attempting to wound, two counts of damaging property and having a blade, the police also confirmed to the Voice .

The court said he is to remain in hospital till he is deemed fit.

He was arrested in February 29, just 10 days after a encounter with officers, who claimed he had attacked them with a blade after they responded to calls about a man breaking into a vehicle.

Officers alleged that university graduate Asare,25, refused to drop the weapon.

Fury erupted in the community after witnesses claimed Asare was shot five times and tasered three times by officers, with many questioning why officers used such force.

The 25-year-old, who suffered gunshot wounds to his upper chest, abdomen, left leg and right hand had also been arrested in his hospital bed, which angered his family.

He was taken to a psychiatric unit after he was released from intensive care on March 13.

The Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC) began an investigation after Asare’s mother, Elizabeth Benin, complained about the speed in which lethal force was deployed against him.

In March, his mother asked: "Why wasn’t there a standoff? I want to know why the police did not try and talk to George. George is not a bad person, he is a good person but he was not well, I don’t understand why they had to shoot him. I just thank God that he was not killed”.

Andre Clovis at Tuckers Solicitors also said then that the “IPCC have been asked to investigate whether George was in fact tasered after, rather than before he was shot by the firearms officers”.

The IPCC told the Voice today (Nov. 2) its "investigation is still ongoing."

During Asare's trial, prosecutor Peter Clement informed jurors that psychiatrist had agreed Asare was seriously mentally unwell.

“(George) began to have dreams that police were going to rape him. Despite hitting him and discharging their electric shock, the Tasers had no apparent effect," Clement told jurors, according to the It was also reported in the News shopper .