on 10 july 2014, the jury at southwark coroner's court returned a verdict that concluded that eight separate police failures had contributed to mrs groce's death, and that her "subsequent death was contributed to by failures in the planning and implementation of the raid". pathologist dr robert chapman testified that during his post-mortem examination he had found metal fragments from the bullet still lodged in the base of her spine, which had contributed to her being more susceptible to debilitating illnesses. the present commissioner of the metropolitan police sir bernard hogan-howe subsequently "apologised unreservedly for our failings" to the family for the years of suffering, stating that the metropolitan police operation had been inadequate, failed to carry out its responsibilities properly, and that it was "inexcusable" that it had taken so long for the police to acknowledge these failings.