The family of Tottenham man Roger Sylvester have vowed to continue their fight for justice after a judge formally quashed an inquest verdict which ruled he was unlawfully killed by police.

At the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday, Mr Justice Collins concluded the coroner's summing-up of the case, made at St Pancras Corner's Court in October 2003, was inadequate.

He modified the verdict of unlawful killing to that of an open verdict.

The judge said he would not order another inquest and said no jury would be likely to convict any officer of manslaughter.

But speaking to the Enfield and Haringey Independent this week, Roger's cousin Victor Sylvester said the family would be taking further legal advice and hoped the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would still look into the case.

He said: "We did not go inside the court to hear the outcome and are disappointed the judge has seen fit to quash the verdict, when a jury of 11 unanimously found Roger had been unlawfully killed.

"However, we remain in good spirits and are seeking further instruction."

Mr Sylvester, 30, had a history of mental health and drug problems. He was arrested naked, banging on doors in Summerhill Road, Tottenham, on January 11, 1999.

He was taken to Tottenham's St Ann's psychiatric hospital, where he was restrained by officers, but collapsed and died seven days later at the Whittington Hospital in Highgate.

Lawyers for the Metropolitan Police officers who were suspended following the inquest into the death of Mr Sylvester argued the hearing was wrongly turned into a surrogate criminal trial in which they stood convicted of manslaughter.

They said there was no evidence to support the decision that Mr Sylvester was killed unlawfully.

Seven of the officers are now back on duty, while one other works for another police force.

Following the decision, Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said in a statement that while police officers must be held accountable, the current inquest system did not provide reliable verdicts following deaths in custody.

He said: "Inquests in controversial cases involving the police are invariably preceded by campaigns that seek to prosecute police officers regardless of the evidence.

"As the judge observed as to the campaign in this case, justice is impartial. Of course there must be justice for Roger, but there must also be justice for police officers'."

Speaking for the officers, solicitor Colin Reynolds said their families welcomed the terms of the judgement.

He said: "It is hoped this will bring to an end six years of sustained and wholly ill-informed criticism of their conduct."

"The claimants were eight straightforward and hardworking officers that did their best to assist Mr Sylvester whilst he was suffering an overwhelming psychiatric condition.

"Each has repeatedly extended sympathy to the Sylvester family. The time has now come for the dedicated campaign against them to end."