Armed siege in which barrister shot dead marred by tactical blunders

Four firearms officers were fully justified in opening fire on drunken Mark Saunders, 32, as he levelled his gun at them, it decided. The family law specialist was fatally shot in the head, heart and liver after an armed siege and more than two hours of discussions with marksmen at his 2.2m Chelsea home in May 2008.

But officers should have considered using his wife Elizabeth or a close friend to calm down the situation earlier, a Westminster Coroner's Court jury said.

Senior police were confused over who was responsible for 59 firearms officers with 109 weapons and insufficient weight was given to his vulnerable, drunk and depressed state, they added.

But this did not contribute to his death and it could not be proved that he was trying to commit suicide, they said.

One juror said he had further "misgivings" about police handling of events, but was not given the opportunity to speak about them in court.

Coroner Paul Knapman will write to the Metropolitan Police and Justice Secretary Ken Clarke to explain what lessons commanders could learn.

Dr Knapman said there was "insufficient evidence" to prove unlawful killing and did not give this option to the jury.

The Crown Prosecution Service will look at whether the inquest produced significant new evidence and if charges could be brought.