RATANA COP: I SHOULD HAVE FOUND THE GUN

Rookie admits weapon search error

- TOM PETTIFOR

A ROOKIE police officer admitted he failed to properly search the gunman who shot dead Sgt Matt Ratana, an inquest has heard.

Then-trainee PC Richard Davey said he missed the weapon smuggled into a custody centre by Louis De Zoysa as he did not follow police procedure.

Double-jointed De Zoysa, 26, was handcuffed behind his back but hid the antique gun under his coat and was able to shoot Sgt Ratana, 54.

PCS Davey and Samantha Still found seven homemade bullets in a breast pouch when they stopped the former HM Revenue & Customs computer coder in the street.