The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have today announced that no charges will be brought against any of the Metropolitan Police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting of Alderley Edge barrister Mark Saunders in Chelsea, West London, on May 6th last year.
Sally Walsh, of the CPS said that "there is insufficient evidence to charge any officer in relation to these sad events" and decided "there was no realistic prospect" of proving that the officers did not act in self-defence.
In addition to charges of murder, attempted murder and manslaughter it emerged today that legal experts also considered charges of gross negligence, misconduct in public office and Health & Safety At Work Act offences against the officers in charge of the operation. Again it was decided that "there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any of these officers for any of these offenses."
The decision not to prosecute any officer was approved by Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer.
The police arrived at Markham Square in Chelsea shortly before 5pm after receiving reports that shots had been fired. A siege began, which centred around Mr Saunders home, which lasted over 4 hours. The fatal shots were fired around 9.30pm when seven officers fired 11 bullets at Mr Saunders.
Sally Walsh said "We recognise this was a tragic incident and that Mr Saunders was in a distressed state at the time of his death, but the police have a duty to protect the public and the right to defend themselves. I have informed Mrs Saunders of my decision and would again like to offer her my sympathies. I have also offered to meet her in order to provide a more detailed explanation."
A statement was issued by Jane Glass, solicitor for Mr Saunders' widow Elizabeth, which said "Elizabeth now awaits the inquest which will consider in public why it was necessary for police officers to shoot her husband. She is concerned that nothing should be allowed to deflect attention away from the need for a full, careful and objective consideration of that question."
Mark Saunders spent his childhood in Alderley Edge and his parents still live in the village. His family went to the High Court seeking judicial review in a bid to have the IPCC inquiry in to his death declared unlawful. They argued that the practice of allowing offers to confer about their accounts gives rise to the risk of collusion.
Mr Justice Underhill dismissed their claim but the Association of Chief Police Officers later issued revised guidelines on the practice.
