James Miller had won numerous awards for his work

James Miller, 34, an award-winning journalist who had worked for the BBC, was shot in May while making a documentary on house demolitions in Palestinian areas.

The father-of-two's widow Sophy, his sister and brother are flying to Israel on Monday, to urge the authorities to launch a criminal investigation into his death.

Mr Miller's mother Eileen urged the UK prime minister to discuss the matter with Mr Sharon during talks in London.

[They had] helmets with 'TV' on them, press flak jackets and a big white flag, a torch shining on the white flag, and the translator shouting in several languages 'We're the press' Eileen Miller, mother Cameraman 'shot in front'

"We hope that this week when Ariel Sharon is here that Jack Straw and Tony Blair are not just talking about the road map [peace plan] but justice for a Briton, with a white flag, killed abroad," she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Mrs Miller questioned the speed and accuracy of an investigation being carried out by the Israeli Defence Force into the shooting.

"It seems very bad that it's now two and a half months on, no results have come, and they've only just seized the weapons," she said.

White flag

Mrs Miller said her son had been working with reporter Saira Shah on the day he was shot, filming houses being demolished in the Gaza strip.

He was killed while returning home after interviewing a family about the demolitions, she said.

"They were well lit on a veranda, and when it was time to go to their apartment they chose not to go via the little road where there was a watchtower and people possibly had been shot from time to time.

"James himself pursued justice and I think it's only right that the family do Eileen Miller MPs consider Israel investigation Israel restricts Gaza access

"They walked out firmly to the front - Saira, James and the translator - wearing helmets with 'TV' on them, press flak jackets and a big white flag, a torch shining on the white flag, and the translator shouting in several languages 'We're the press'.

"And James was shot in the neck."

Israel initially claimed Mr Miller, from north Devon, had been killed by Palestinians, but officials have since admitted it was probably an Israeli bullet which killed him.

The UK Foreign Office, which has seen a videotape of the shooting, has expressed concern about the case.

Mrs Miller said an investigation was important to bring "closure" to her son's grieving wife and children.

Mr Miller leaves a two-year-old son Alexander and six-month-old daughter Lottie.

"Justice helps for closure in a family when a very sad thing has happened...

"James himself pursued justice and I think it's only right that the family do," said Mrs Miller.