An inquest into the death of Sergii Kuzmenko has heard from a firearms officer who maintained it was their "honestly held belief" that a man continued to hold a knife to a child's throat even as they fired multiple shots. According to BBC News, Kuzmenko was shot seven times by Cumbria Police officers responding to reports of threats to kill at a house in Carlisle on 19 December 2022, with a young child present in the property.
The inquest jury viewed bodycam footage demonstrating that Kuzmenko dropped the knife after the third shot, yet the officer continued firing three additional times. Officer C, as identified in court proceedings, stated at the inquest in Workington that they believed the child remained in danger because they had not observed the knife fall from Kuzmenko's hand.
The incident occurred at a property on Borland Avenue following a 999 call made by the man's sister. At an earlier hearing, the coroner determined that the two armed officers who discharged their weapons, along with two other armed colleagues, would receive anonymity protections based on concerns that revealing their identities could endanger their safety.
When counsel to the inquest Joseph Hart asked Officer C whether they would have fired shots four, five and six had they witnessed the knife being dropped, the officer responded:
"Absolutely not."
The jury was presented with Officer C's body camera footage played at half speed during the proceedings. Kuzmenko was Ukrainian and had limited English language proficiency, the inquest previously heard.
What did the police watchdog find?
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concluded in November 2023 that the officers' decision to shoot was consistent with relevant training and guidance, after determining they believed a child faced an imminent threat. The IOPC's investigation reviewed accounts from 11 officers and body-worn video footage. The watchdog found no indication that any officer breached professional standards or committed a criminal offence.
What has emerged during the current inquest?
The inquest reopened on 9 November 2026 and is examining firearms use and police policy for interacting with people whose first language is not English. On 12 November, Officer L told the inquest he heard a
"horrendous scream"and disagreed that police presence aggravated the situation.
When will the inquest conclude?
The inquest is scheduled to run from 9 to 27 November 2026, with evidence heard at Allerdale House in Workington. The proceedings are expected to last up to three weeks as the jury examines the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
