Prosecutors reviewing the fatal police shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes have delayed deciding whether to bring charges against any of the officers involved until the summer.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had been widely expected to announce its decision on criminal charges at around Easter but it now regards this timetable as "no longer realistic".

Mr de Menezes, a 27-year old electrician originally from Brazil, was shot and killed at Stockwell tube station as London was gripped by tension caused by the July 7, and attempted July 21, bomb attacks.

The Brazilian was shot seven times in the head by anti-terror officers after being mistaken for a suicide bomber the day after the attempted July 21 attacks.

Critics have attacked police for operating an alleged 'shoot to kill' policy in respect of suicide bombers while Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has also come under fire.

The de Menezes family has made a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission that police officers, including Sir Ian, put out misleading statements after the incident.

Sir Ian has always maintained that he discovered that Mr de Menezes had been shot by mistake the morning after the shooting, But it has been alleged that police knew a mistake had been made within six hours.

Up to 10 police officers could potentially face charges over the shooting, which has already been investigated by the IPCC.

A CPS spokeswoman said : "We are now at a stage in the review where we can give a more well informed indication as to when our decision will be made.

"Although we had hoped to have made our decision by Easter, this is no longer realistic. A decision in this case is more likely to be made in the early summer."

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