Siege death police may be charged

Mark Saunders was shot following a five-hour stand-off

Prosecutors are to consider whether to bring charges over the shooting of a lawyer by police officers in London.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has completed an inquiry into the death of Mark Saunders, 32, in Chelsea in May 2008.

Mr Saunders was shot dead by Met Police marksmen after a five-hour stand-off at his flat.

The IPCC has decided to pass the file to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration over possible charges.

On this occasion Commissioner Tom Davies decided that the case did meet the criteria for referral, under the Police Reform Act 2002 IPCC statement

During the siege in Markham Square on 6 May 2008 Mr Saunders fired at police officers, neighbours and buildings with a legally-owned shotgun from his £2.2m home.

A statement from the IPCC said: "As in all IPCC cases, the investigation report was passed to an IPCC commissioner to decide whether the case should be referred to the CPS.

"On this occasion Commissioner Tom Davies decided that the case did meet the criteria for referral, under the Police Reform Act 2002."

The barrister was hit five times and was shot in the head, the heart and the liver.

The IPCC evidence showed seven officers fired 11 rounds at Mr Saunders.

A message that Mr Saunders threw out from a window addressed to his wife suggested that a row between the couple may have sparked the incident.

Last October the High Court dismissed a claim by the divorce lawyer's family that the independent police investigation into the shooting was unlawful.

Following the dismissal Mr Saunders' family decided not to appeal against the decision in January.