RAOUL MOAT’S final moments remain a mystery, an inquest heard yesterday.

Although Moat was hit by police Tasers, it was unclear if officers fired before or after the father-of-three shot himself in the head, a police investigator said.

However, Steve Reynolds, of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), told the hearing two Tasers were fired in an “effort to stop him taking his own life”.

Armed police fired Tasers at Moat, 37, that were not approved by the Home Office, the inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre also heard.

The XRep Taser, which is fired from a 12-gauge shotgun, is currently being tested by the Home Office before being approved.

But the Home Office stressed police could use any weapon they saw fit as long as its use was “lawful, reasonable and proportionate”.

Mr Reynolds said: “At 1.12am, on July 10, Mr Moat’s shotgun discharged, resulting in him receiving fatal injuries.

“At some point around the time of the fatal shot, two West Yorkshire Police firearms officers armed with XRep Tasers discharged their weapons at Mr Moat. This is understood to have been in an effort to prevent Mr Moat taking his own life.

“At this stage, the precise sequence of events regarding the discharge of the Tasers has not been established and is under investigation.”

Mr Reynolds said the matter had been referred to the IPCC by Northumbria Police.