The inquest jury examining the death of Jean Charles de Menezes has returned an open verdict - refusing to accept the police’s contention that he was lawfully killed in a fast-moving anti-terrorist operation.

The jurors also answered a series of questions about the circumstances of Mr de Menezes's death on board a Tube train at Stockwell, South London, in a way which rejected much of the account of the shooting given by police firearms officers.

Asked if they believed that the policemen had shouted a warning of armed police, the jury answered no. They also answered no when asked if Mr de Menezes had moved towards the officers before he was shot.

The jury had been banned by Sir Michael Wright, QC, the coroner, from considering a verdict of unlawful killing. His ruling led the de Menezes family to withdraw from the proceedings and brand the inquest "a complete whitewash".

But the outcome of the inquest is a damaging result for the Metropolitan Police and could lead to a legal challenge to the verdict in the High Court.

The coroner said he would be preparing a report on what practices of the Metropolitan Police required changing. It will be sent to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, the police authority and the Home Secretary and should be made public.

Sir Paul Stephenson, the acting Met Commissioner, responded to criticism of the counter terrorism officers by apologising for their mistakes.

“The death of Jean Charles de Menezes was a tragedy. He was an innocent man and we must and do accept full responsibility for his death,” he said today.

“For somebody to lose his life in such circumstances is something the Metropolitan Police Service deeply regrets.

“In the face of enormous challenges faced by officers on that day, we made the most terrible mistake. I am sorry.”

Sir Michael, who came out of retirement to hear the inquest, expressed his "sincere condolences" to the de Menezes family after the verdict was read.

Mr de Menezes’s mother said she was delighted that the jury had recorded the harshest verdict possible on the conduct of the police.

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