Widow's anger over police marksmen

The row over police shootings escalated today with a call for the two officers at the centre of the dispute to stand trial.

The demand came from the widow of Harry Stanley, shot dead in 1999 when police mistook a table leg he was carrying for a gun.

Irene Stanley said firearms officers whose mistakes resulted in loss of life should face the full force of the law. Her solicitor Daniel Machover revealed a decision over whether to charge the officers was expected within months.

More than 125 Metropolitan Police firearms officers were back at work today after calling off a protest which saw them lay down their weapons. They were angry over the treatment of their colleagues Chief Inspector Neil Sharman and Pc Kevin Fagan, suspended after an inquest jury ruled on Friday that Mr Stanley, 46, had been unlawfully killed.

Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens pledged to review the suspensions. Home Secretary David Blunkett promised a review of the law which could offer more protection to police marksmen who use lawful force. And incoming commissioner Sir Ian Blair said officers needed more protection under the law. He added: "It should be a matter of shame for us all that they are let down when they most need our support."

But Mrs Stanley hit back at the police protest, telling the BBC: "The officers were not at the scene when they shot my husband, so they don't know what happened."

She conceded that firearms officers faced tough decisions but said: "They have been in the job for a long time so they should know what to do. If they make a mistake, it's someone's life. I would like to see the officers standing

trial." Mr Machover said the suspensions should stand until a decision was made whether to charge the officers.

He pointed out that their claim to have been acting in self-defence had been disregarded by the inquest jury.

Mr Stanley was walking to his home in Hackney when police received a tip-off that he was an Irish terrorist.

They believed he was armed when in fact he was carrying a recently-repaired coffee table leg in a plastic bag.