'Blunders' by police in killing of optician

A Chief Constable today admitted in the High Court that police blunders could have led to an optician being shot dead with a silver bullet.

But Chief Constable Frank Whiteley insisted the parents of Giles van Colle should not be paid more than £20,000 in compensation. Irwin and Corinne van Colle are suing Hertfordshire police under human rights legislation for unlimited damages after their son, 25, was murdered in 2000 in Mill Hill.

His ex-employee, Daniel Brougham, was jailed for life last year for murdering Mr Van Colle to stop him giving evidence in a fraud trial. Mr Van Colle had told DC David Ridley, who led the fraud probe, of death threats from Brougham but no action was taken.

Mr Whiteley accepted DC Ridley had "made mistakes" and should have arrested Brougham. He apologised to the family but refused to accept his force had been culpably negligent. The case continues.