The heartbroken family of a man who was shot by Derbyshire Police have spoken out for the first time of their shock and grief over his death. The sister of Marius Ciolac, Andreea Ciolac, 32, said she only learned about the circumstances of her brother's death from the news coverage.
Mr Ciolac, 35, was fatally injured by armed police after he was seen with a blade in the car park of Ascot Drive Police Station. The mum of two, who lives in Italy, has spoken in Romanian to Derbyshire Live, saying: "Marius was clearly in the wrong, he was not innocent.
"We heard that he had a knife on him. But why kill him? We only found out from the news later that his lawyer said he was having mental health issues."
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Mr Ciolac suffered a single bullet wound to the abdomen after being shot. A Taser, baton round and a stun grenade were used in an attempt to stop Mr Ciolac who was, according to Derbyshire police, wielding a knife and damaging property on Friday, October 7.
His family has been told that he also had a cat with him that he was carrying in a bag. The Independent Office for Police Complaints said three knives were found at the scene.
His sister continued: "We were told on Sunday afternoon that he died due to a police-related accident. We did not know much about it.
"But then we searched about it on the internet. And then we knew that he was shot by police from the news."
"We knew nothing about it." Ms Ciolac explained that her late brother moved to England four years ago and had been working as a builder.
Ms Ciolac added: "He wanted to move back to Romania in like a month, to travel. We thought he was happy in England, but in the last months he was lonely."
Ms Ciolac is a mum of two who is awaiting her third child, and lives in Florence, Italy, with her mum Mariana Racos, 62. She added: "My mum cannot really talk about it, she is very upset.
"We know now that Marius had his autopsy, we know that he died from a single shot to his abdomen. I cannot go to England myself because I am eight months pregnant and I am not allowed to.
"We want to repatriate the body back to Romania, that is our priority right now. We know there will be a large sum of money involved."
She continued: "We managed to get a flight ticket to England for my brother who lives in Romania. He will fly there in England to officially identify the body. It will all start on Monday, but we do not know how long it will all take."
The family will possibly look into getting legal advice. Mrs Ciolac said: "We tried to get in touch with Marius before he died. We spoke to some of his friends who were saying that he was quite lonely.
"They told me that he was looking to come back to Romania in a month to travel. He did not want a family.
"We are just all very shocked. We would have understood maybe if it was an accident but in these circumstances we just cannot find answers.
"I just think it is all very awkward. We do not understand what it was in his head, to have a knife on him in a police station car park. Police also told us that he was carrying a bag with a cat inside it."
Mr Ciolac's mum, Mariana Racos, said: "It all happened too fast. Even if he was in the wrong. It all happened too fast."
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