Questions for police as it is revealed siege barrister was gunned down with at least FIVE bullets

Mr Saunders, 32, was shot with rounds from two kinds of gun in the brain, heart, liver, and lower body, according to a pathologist's report.

He had been firing a shotgun from the window of his £2.2million flat in Markham Square, Chelsea, on Tuesday night.

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Officers broke into his home after three exchanges of gunfire and he was found bleeding to death.

Speculation that the barrister - who acted for the wealthy in divorce cases, including gameshow host Chris Tarrant - may have shot himself was dispelled yesterday.

There was no evidence of any shotgun wound on him, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.

Mr Saunders's body was identified by his wife Elizabeth Clarke, 40.

His parents Rodney and Rosemary paid tribute to him but questioned the police's use of lethal force.

"Everyone who knew and loved Mark appreciated his warmth, generosity and sheer energy for life," they said.

"He was a very talented and sociable person whose enthusiasm and charm touched so many people. We will always remember him as our caring, considerate and loving son and brother. We are devastated at our tragic loss."

Mr Saunders senior, a 64-year-old quantity surveyor of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, has called the police decision to shoot his son "an absolute mystery" adding: "We will want answers as to why police shot him."

At the inquest yesterday coroner's officer Lynda Morris said: "The multiple gunshot wounds present are associated with severe internal damage to the brain, the heart, the liver and the main vein of the lower body.

"The external and internal gunshot-related damage is consistent with a minimum of five shots having hit the deceased.

"The nature of the wound and the projectile material recovered from the body suggests that more than one type of bullet has hit the deceased and further information will become available on this point."

Mrs Morris was reading from a preliminary report by pathologist Dr Nathaniel Carey which concluded that the cause of Mr Saunders's death was "multiple gunshot wounds".

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Independent Police Complaints Commission investigating officer Paul Craig said witnesses were being questioned, house-to-house inquiries conducted and forensic tests carried out.

Mr Craig said that there were three separate exchanges of fire between Mr Saunders and police on Tuesday afternoon in Markham Square.

"Following the last of these exchanges an intervention was made to the property by police officers and Mr Saunders was found to be seriously injured," he said.

"He was taken from the house to the pavement outside where medical support was provided but despite the best efforts of all those concerned Mr Saunders tragically died."

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Osborne, of the directorate of professional standards, told the inquest his officers were at the scene during the siege and took over when Mr Saunders died.

A police source said that the bullets fired at Mr Saunders were not of the "dum dum" or hollow-nosed variety which explode on impact.

Mr Saunders's wife, who was not at the inquest, told in a statement how much she loved him.

It read: "This is a very distressing time for all of Mark's family, who loved him dearly, and especially for Elizabeth.

"Mark and Elizabeth had a strong union and were deeply committed to each other."

Mr Saunders reportedly had a drink problem and suffered from depression.

An investigation into how he was able obtain a shotgun licence has begun.

A legally registered shotgun was recovered from his home.