Relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes have staged a dramatic courtroom protest during the closing stages of the inquest into his death.

Five members of the de Menezes family unzipped their coats to reveal t-shirts with the slogans "Your Legal Right to Decide" and "Unlawful Killing Verdict" in full view of the jury.

The demonstration, at the special court sitting at the Oval Cricket Ground, was a protest against the decision by Sir Michael Wright, QC, the coroner, to refuse to allow the jury to consider a verdict of unlawful killing in the case.

The incident occurred as Sir Michael began the final hour of his summing up speech at the end of the 11 week inquest which has been held at an estimated cost of £3 million.

Mr de Menezes, 27, a Brazilian electrician, was shot seven times in the head by armed police who mistook him for a suicide bomber on July 22 2005.

Sir Michael opened proceedings by telling the 11 jurors that the de Menezes family's legal team, headed by Michael Mansfield QC, would no longer be attending the hearings.

"The first thing you will notice is that Mr Mansfield, Miss [Henrietta] Hill and their instructing solicitors are no longer in their places," the coroner said. "The evidence and legal submissions are now all over and we have had their assistance throughout these very important stages.

"I understand that from this point they will no longer be here. There is absolutely no difficulty about that. No disrespect is meant by it to anyone."

At that point the five family members, who were sitting at the back of the court, stood up and removed their coats. They stood silently, revealing white T-shirts with large black lettering, for a few moments as startled court staff watched uncertainly.

The relatives then walked from their seats towards the jury box. Court ushers and security guards hurried forward, intercepted them and ushered the group out of the courtroom through a side door.

The coroner ruled earlier this week that the jurors could consider only two verdicts - lawful killing or an open verdict. He has also given the jury a questionnaire listing a number of factors and asking whether they had any influence over the killing.

The hearing is continuing and the jury is expected to retire this afternoon.

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