JURORS have been told they can choose between lawful killing or an open verdict in the cases of two armed robbers shot dead outside a Hampshire bank.

Mid Hampshire Coroner Grahame Short was today due to continue his summing up of the hearing into the deaths of Mark Nunes, 35, of Streatham, south London, and Andrew Markland, 36, of Brixton, south London, who were killed by Metropolitan Police firearms officers during an attempted raid on an armoured van outside the HSBC bank in Chandler’s Ford on September 13, 2007.

The jury, which must consider each death separately, is expected to retire to consider its verdict tomorrow.

Mr Short said to find a verdict of lawful killing, jurors must be satisfied that at the time the officer fired the weapon he honestly believed the deceased was a threat to the lives of another person or persons and that he used no more force than was reasonably necessary in the circumstances as he believed them.

At the Winchester inquest, which began on October 3, Mr Short said: “It’s fair to say this inquest has been emotive and I’m sure you have picked up on that, but you must assess the evidence as dispassionately as you can.”

Proceeding