Siege man hit at least five times

4:34pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Barrister Mark Saunders was hit at least five times by police marksmen during a shoot-out at his home, an inquest has heard.

The divorce specialist was killed after holing himself up in his £2.2 million London flat armed with his shotgun on Tuesday night.

Armed police moved in after he began firing shots at neighbours in the wealthy square in Chelsea.

He was shot in the head, the heart and the liver and the bullets were fired from several police weapons, an inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court has heard.

Coroner's officer Lynda Morris told the hearing that Mr Saunders 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."

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

The formal cause of death was given to the court as multiple gunshot wounds.

Independent Police Complaints Commission investigating officer Paul Craig told the inquest that a fuller report may take up to six months to prepare.

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