Gunman shot by police was 'lawfully killed'

Gun enthusiast Mervyn Tussler, 64, was in despair that his ailing wife Winifred would have to go into a nursing home because she could not be looked after at home.

Firearms officers were deployed after Mr Tussler pointed a Colt 45 antique handgun at a manager at his sheltered accommodation when she went to check on him.

Mr Tussler, described as "caring and anti-establishment", said: "I'm not letting a Government agency take my wife away so you better get lost."

During a three-hour stand-off, police tried to start negotiations with him but he did not respond and a police dog sent into the property did not indicate anyone was inside.

Officers entered to find him motionless on his bed and when they pulled away his duvet, Mr Tussler opened fire several times from his "cowboy-style" gun, and a bullet penetrated an officer's protective vest.

Police threw a stun grenade into the room but it failed to subdue him. Officers returned fire and he died from a single bullet wound to his abdomen at 2.20pm on May 8 last year at Ash Grove in Fernhurst, West Sussex.

During the three-week inquest, jurors heard Mr Tussler threatened suicide after social workers told him two days before he died that his wife needed more care than he could provide. Mr Tussler, who had been his wife's registered carer for 10 years, became upset and pointed his finger at professionals around the room, saying: "I never forget faces and I never forgive."

Mrs Tussler, known as Winnie, had been spending an increasing amount of time in hospital following a long-term brain injury and had also developed a clot which spread to her lungs.

Before the shooting, Mr Tussler, who was on anti-depressants and had been drinking telephoned the Royal Surrey Hospital asking staff to say goodbye to his wife of 13 years as he was going to kill himself. He also threatened to kill any police officers who turned up at his sheltered accommodation.

The inquest jury, sitting at the Chatsworth Hotel in Worthing, ruled that "the fatal wound to the abdomen of Mr Tussler was caused by a shot which was lawfully fired".

They ruled that certain information, including from Mr Tussler's daughter, Sandra Skelton, was not passed to the silver commander during the stand-off, including the disclosure he sometimes slept with a gun under his pillow and that may fire at police. However, jurors decided it did not contribute to his death.

Outside the hearing, Mrs Skelton fought back tears as she said the family believed it was clear operational failings had contributed to his death.