Police shot siege man five times

added 10 May 2008 at 01.22

Barrister Mark Saunders was shot at least five times by police marksmen during an armed siege at his home, an inquest heard.

The 32-year-old was killed after a five-hour stand-off at his £2.2 million London flat on Tuesday night.

Armed police moved in after he began firing shots at neighbours in Chelsea's wealthy Markham Square.

An inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court heard how Mr Saunders was shot in the head, the heart and the liver and the bullets were fired from several police weapons.

Coroner's officer Lynda Morris told the hearing that he did not suffer any injuries from his own shotgun.

She said: "The multiple gunshot wounds present are associated with severe internal damage to the brain, the heart, the liver and the main vein of the lower body.

"The external and internal gunshot-related damage is consistent with a minimum of five shots having hit the deceased.

"The nature of the wound and the projectile material recovered from the body suggests that more than one type of bullet has hit the deceased and further information will become available on this point."

Mrs Morris was reading from a preliminary report prepared by pathologist Dr Nathaniel Carey yesterday.

Mr Saunders was a high-flying barrister who specialised in divorce cases at the QEB Chambers.

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