Pathologist continues tests on Moat's body

Scientists have yet to reach a conclusion about how gun killer Raoul Moat died, his family has said.

A pathologist was continuing his examination of the former doorman's body yesterday after beginning a second post-mortem on Tuesday.

Further tests are to be done before this autopsy is complete and its findings are made public.

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This means the gunman's close relatives must wait longer to discover exactly how he died.

The killer's uncle, Charlie Alexander, and tax inspector brother Angus paid 600 for the second post-mortem.

The first, carried out the day after Moat, 37, died near the riverbank in Rothbury, Northumberland, found the cause of death to be a gunshot wound consistent with the shotgun the former doorman had been carrying.

But after seeing Moat's body for themselves and hearing that police marksmen had fired Tasers at about the same time as he died, the family was left with unanswered questions.

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They feared the father of three might not have taken his own life.

Former Royal Artillery warrant officer Mr Alexander, 72, a widower from Gateshead, said the second post-mortem results would allow the family to move on and plan for the killer's funeral.

"The post-mortem findings are not complete," he said. "There are still tests to be done.

"After that the matter will be in the hands of solicitors because we do not want any comment we make to affect the inquest."

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He said he had spoken to Moat's brother Angus who said the findings could be days away.

"We still need to make plans for the funeral but cannot do so until we know," he said.

Mr Alexander has questioned whether the use of Tasers caused his nephew's death.

Two alleged accomplices Karl Ness, 26, and Qhuram Awan, 23, will go on trial next year accused of conspiracy to murder.