The family of Peter Woodhams, a dad shot dead on his doorstep has launched a High Court battle challenging the reinstatement of two police officers told to resign over the investigation of the killing.

Croydon-born Mr Woodhams, 22, was gunned down on August 21, 2006 after a seven-month intimidation campaign by a local gang.

The satellite engineer, who was working seven day weeks to provide for his family, died in the arms of his fiancee Jane Bowden in front of their three-year-old son Sam.

The shooting followed an attack on Mr Woodhams in January of that year when he was stabbed in the neck by a gang member after they had pelted his car with stones.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur decided the punishment, following the death was excessive and substituted lesser penalties.

In court, Mr Ghaffur was accused of exceeding his powers and making an unlawful decision. The judge said he would rule today on whether to allow the challenge to go to a full hearing.

Bradley Tucker, 18, was later convicted of Mr Woodhams' murder and jailed for a minimum of 25 years.

The investigating officer for the knife attack, Detective Constable Adam Suett and his supervising officer, Det Sergeant Darren Case, were subsequently found guilty of gross neglect.

They were required to resign after an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found serious flaws in the way the case had been handled.

But the police watchdog decision was reviewed by Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur and the punishment declared to be too severe, leading to their reinstatement. DS Case was demoted to Detective Constable while DC Suett, who has since left the Met police to join the Derbyshire constabulary, was fined 13 days pay.

Mr Woodhams' father, also called Peter, said the decision to reinstate the officers was unbelievable.

Stephen Cragg, appearing for the family, asked Judge Inglis, sitting at London's High Court, to give the go-ahead for a judicial review application.

The case continues.