Another Police mistake?

In all the fuss about MPs' expenses the news of a 64 year old man in Fernhurst, Sussex getting shot dead by police after a 3 hr siege was nearly overlooked.

It appears that the man was distraught at the fate of his seriously ill wife having to go into care and reports were made to police that he had a hostage in his bungalow and was 'brandishing' a gun. He was, in fact, a licensed gun owner and a local rifle club member.

In the event it turns out that there was no hostage and his wife was found in a nearby hospital. There has been no statement at this time that the man was threatening the police or, indeed, anybody - merely that he was not responding when asked to give up his gun. Despite this a police marksman was authorised to shoot him and did so with fatal result.

Now I don't know all the details of the case and, it should be said, the IPCC has begun an 'independent' enquiry into the incident.

At first sight, though, it does give the appearance of the police having 'shot him for his own safety.'