Bob Sinkinson reports on Scotland Yard's hunt for the killers of PC Dunne

Richard Watts, currently serving 10 years in prison for unconnected firearms offences, denied that he was part of a gang who shot dead PC Patrick Dunne five years ago.

PC Dunne, 44, died from a single shot when he went to investigate a disturbance in Cato Road, Clapham on 20 October 1993.

William Danso...'had offended someone'

He arrived at a house but after hearing gunfire from across the road ventured outside where he was gunned down by three men who had moments before executed nightclub doorman William Danso, 31.

An inquest at Southwark Crown Court on Friday was told that the gang ran from the scene laughing and firing shots into the air.

'Insufficient evidence'

Watts and two other men - Anthony Francis and Gary Nelson - were charged in connection with PC Dunne's murder but the charges were later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service because of "insufficient evidence".

Mr Danso's widow, Deborah, was led out of the inquest at one point after she shouted at Watts.

Mrs Danso, who was sitting next to PC Dunne's two brothers, became increasingly irritable as Watts, flanked by two guards, fielded questions from the coroner, Selena Lynch.

Asked point blank if he shot PC Dunne and Mr Danso he said: "No way, no way."

Richard Watts was taken to court from Full Sutton jail near York

After denying he knew who killed the two men, Mrs Danso shouted: "Just tell the truth."

As she left the court in tears, she told Watts she hoped he would "rot in hell".

'Why did you do it?'

But later she was asked to return and question her husband's alleged killer directly.

She said: "I would like to ask you: why did you do this, why?"

Watts replied: "I don't know what you're talking about."

The inquest heard from detectives that Mr Danso, a small-time drug dealer, may have been killed for showing "disrespect" to a man during a row at a mobile phone shop where he worked as a security guard.

Mr Danso was hit by six bullets from two guns when the gang burst into his home but he managed to dial 999.

PC Dunne had cycled to a house over the road to sort out a domestic dispute.

He was shot in the chest when he went to investigate the gunfire.

'Worthless cowards'

Recording verdicts of unlawful killing on both men, Ms Lynch said: "He was cut down violently whilst carrying out his duties on behalf of us all.

"His killers are nothing but worthless cowards and so are they who can, but will not, give them up because someone I'm sure has the power to do that."

Following a tip-off detectives investigating the killings found the guns buried in Wandsworth cemetery in south London nearly a year later.

Nelson is serving eight years for firearms offences and Francis is now a free man after being given a six year term for robbery, blackmail, kidnapping and possession of firearms.

PC Dunne's brother, Ivan, called for those who had information about the murders to come forward and said: "It's irritating to know there are people out there who could conclude this case."