Five Sussex police officers charged in connection with the shooting of James Ashley appeared at the Old Bailey today.

PC Christopher Sherwood, 33, has been charged with the murder of Mr Ashley, 39.

Superintentent Christopher Burton, 43, Acting Detective Inspector Kevin French, 47, Detective Inspector Christopher Siggs, 42, and PC Robert Shoesmith, 38, all face charges of misuse of public office in connection with an operation to arrest Mr Ashley at his flat in Hastings in 1998.

All five men have denied the charges.

Nigel Sweeney QC, prosecuting, told Mrs Justice Rafferty today that the trial was unlikely to start in front of a jury until next Monday.

He said there were a number of legal issues which needed to be raised.

All five officers only spoke in court today to confirm their names. All are on bail.