Barrister shot by police seven times in siege 'was drunk and suicidal'

A barrister shot dead by police during a siege at his home was three times over the legal drink-drive limit and "potentially suicidal", a coroner said today.

Mark Saunders, 32, had opened fire with a shotgun from his Chelsea townhouse in May last year hitting neighbouring properties and sparking a standoff with members of the Met's specialist CO19 unit.

He died after seven different officers fired a total of 11 rounds at him.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman told a pre-inquest review that Mr Saunders was already dead when police entered the house in Markham Square, off the Kings Road. A full jury inquest will take place next year.

Dr Knapman said: "We know Mr Saunders shot through his back kitchen window with a shotgun at 4.40pm on May 6 2008. The police were deployed, a siege ensued. At 9.32pm seven police officers fired 11 shots. He was probably fatally wounded then and about five minutes later the police entered the front of the building and used CS gas."

Dr Knapman said Mr Saunders had spoken to negotiators and led them to believe he was suicidal.

The coroner said: "He was potentially suicidal although under the influence of alcohol.

"We know he had been drinking with an alcohol limit of about three times the legal limit for driving a vehicle. We also know that the IPCC report includes powerful features showing he was suicidal."

Friends said Mr Saunders feared his marriage to Elizabeth, also a lawyer, was breaking down and he had been drinking heavily. Mrs Saunders, represented by Patrick Gibbs, was at Westminster coroner's court for today's review.

She will have to decide, along with Mr Saunders' family, whether she accepts that her husband was suicidal when he was shot dead by police.

If there is a dispute about his state of mind it may effect which witnesses and what medical evidence is called.

Senior officers, who led the operation, will give evidence to the jury inquest anonymously along with the seven officers from CO19.

The pre-inquest review was adjourned.