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High court dismisses Saunders illegal inquiry claim

A high court judge has dismissed a claim by the family of deceased barrister Mark Saunders that the inquiry into his death was unlawful.

Mark Saunders, a successful divorce lawyer, was shot dead after an armed standoff with police outside his Chelsea home during which he fired shots at neighbours with a shotgun.

Mr Saunders's family claimed that the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry into his death was flawed as officers involved in the shootout had conferred before recording their statements.

While the claim was dismissed, Mr Justice Underhill wrote in his judgment that the practise of witnesses speaking to each other prior to recording statements could result in evidence being distorted.

He stated that it was worrying that police officers who were key witnesses in a trial could be in a situation where they were "expressly permitted to collaborate in production of their statements".

He said such a practice could result in the institutionalisation of opportunities for "collusion".

The judge has given the family the right to appeal.

Mr Saunders was shot dead in May after a five-hour shootout with police in May.