Culcheth police shooting: Three men cleared over robbery plot
Three men have been cleared of conspiracy to rob after an operation in which a man was shot dead by officers in Cheshire.
David Totton, 33, Robert Rimmer, 26 and Joseph Travers, 27, were found not guilty at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the death of a fourth man, Anthony Grainger.
Mr Grainger, 36, was shot by police when the men were stopped in Culcheth.
The operation, carried out by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), involved armed officers stopping an Audi in a car park on 3 March.
A bullet fired by an officer passed through the windscreen and hit Mr Grainger, from Bolton.
The IPCC confirmed the car he was in had been stolen and had false registration plates.
Mr Totton and Mr Rimmer, both from Manchester and Mr Travers, of no fixed address, were all arrested at the scene.
After the shooting, officers from GMP's Specialist Operations branch performed first aid, but Mr Grainger died.
The IPCC also confirmed a detailed search of the car by police found no weapons.
An inquest into Mr Grainger's death was opened and adjourned pending the findings of the IPCC investigation.
Mr Grainger's family said they continue to "campaign for justice over his death".