UK NEWS

GUNMAN SHOT DEAD IN SIEGE WAS BARRISTER

Armed police at the siege

Wednesday May 7,2008

By Geoff Marsh for express.co.uk

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A GUNMAN shot dead by police after a five hour stand-off last night was a practising barrister, it was revealed today.

Mark Saunders, 32, was named locally as the man at the centre of a gun battle in upmarket Markham Square, Chelsea, south-west London.

Officials are investigating whether Mr Saunders also recently served as a soldier in the British Army.

Property owner Jane Winkworth said Mr Saunders rented the £2.2 million first-floor flat in the three-storey Markham Square property.

Mrs Winkworth, director of French Sole, a company which sells ballet shoes, was trapped in her basement home during the siege.

A friend and colleague, who declined to be named, said Mrs Winkworth was left stunned and shocked.

She said Mrs Winkworth was in the rear garden when the gunman first started shooting at about 5pm.

Mrs Winkworth told her friend that at least three bullets missed her as she ran inside and dialled 999.

When armed officers arrived 10 minutes later they flooded in to her flat, where they remained.

More shots were exchanged between the gunman and police at about 9.10pm before the final fatal confrontation at 9.30pm.

She told her friend that the man died directly outside her flat after being shot by an armed officer.

** HOW THE SIEGE UNFOLDED...***

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR FROST

08.05.08, 10:16pm

Where is Frost when you need him? He would have talked the man into surrender in most cases. Police now have Health and Safety and Duty Of Care. That man was suffocated because of the police meeting their Duty Of Care. They use extra officers and extra measures for Health and Safety reasons.

• Posted by: Wayland • Report Comment

ANOTHER....

07.05.08, 4:12pm

...one. I don't know what happend at that house but police have a ways other then to kill someone to deal safely with the situation! Bit no...they have to kill to show that if you mess with gun you'll end up dead. Another murder has been comitted on our streets. Doesn't matter if it's policeman that did it. Murder is murder!!!

• Posted by: Slaven • Report Comment