If you (the CPS) have any sense of humanity I would ask you to reach a fair and just decision about the circumstances that led to my husband's death

Irene Stanley

Mrs Stanley, along with other campaigners, was due to hold a simple service for Mr Stanley close to Warniford Street, Hackney at 1230 BST on Saturday, following his death on 22 September, 1999.

Despite winning a judicial review at the High Court, campaigners are still waiting for the CPS to decide on whether the case should proceed.

Mrs Stanley sent a letter to Crown Prosecution Service director David Calvert-Smith, last Wednesday, appealing for him to show a sense of "humanity" on the case.

Mrs Stanley told BBC News Online it is only the campaigning that has got her through the trauma.

She said: "I've heard nothing from Mr Calvert-Smith since writing the letter to him.

"But I asked him to help me make my life easier after being left with a family to care for by myself over the last two years."

Irene Stanley's health has deteriorated since her husband was killed

She also told Mr Calvert-Smith: "If you have any sense of humanity I would ask you to reach a fair and just decision about the circumstances that led to my husband's death."

Mrs Stanley said while she has had a lot of support from family and friends, her health has deteriorated in the last two years.

"My hair went white because of the stress, I have to keep on dying it," she added.

"I just can't help thinking that if a policeman had been shot in a similar situation, someone would have been put in prison by now."

Mr Stanley was carrying the leg of a coffee table when he died, after officers from Scotland Yard's "SO19" armed response unit mistook him for an Irishman, carrying a sawn-off shotgun.

Glasgow-born Mr Stanley, who was 46, was left lying dead in the street for six hours, claim campaigners.

Body left

Leading campaigner Terry Stewart said: "His body wasn't even covered.

"The police authority was told about his death at 10pm that night, but Irene did not learn about it until 4pm the following day."

Mrs Stanley's solicitors, Hickman and Rose, of London, confirmed that despite agreeing to further examine the case in May 2001, the CPS has also told the firm nothing.

A CPS spokesman said: "The case is still under review, and as yet I cannot confirm a date when a final decision will be made on whether to proceed or not."