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Michael Brown Shooting: What Really Happened?

St Louis prosecutor Robert McCulloch has provided the most detailed account yet of what happened the night Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown.

He explained the grand jury had not found enough evidence to charge Officer Wilson, indicating they accepted his version of events - that he gunned down the unarmed 18-year-old in self-defence.

There were accounts that contradicted the officer among the 60 witnesses who gave evidence over a 25-day period, but they seemed less reliable as they changed over time or did not tally with physical evidence, Mr McCulloch said.

The narrative accepted by the grand jury begins at 12.01pm on 9 August 2014, when Officer Wilson encountered Mr Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson as they walked down the middle of Canfield Drive in Ferguson.

:: Officer Wilson asked Mr Brown to move to the pavement, words were exchanged and the pair carried on walking down the middle of the street.

:: As they passed him, Officer Wilson noticed Mr Brown had cigarillos in his hand - cigarillos had been stolen from a local convenience store - and at 12.02pm, he radioed in that he needed assistance with two individuals on Canfield Drive.

:: Officer Wilson backed his vehicle up at an angle to block the men's path and block the flow of traffic in both directions.

:: There was an altercation between Officer Wilson sitting in his patrol car and Mr Brown standing at the window. Witnesses said Officer Wilson opened his door into Mr Brown and choked him, while the officer said he was scratched and punched in the face as Mr Brown grabbed at his gun. Newly-released photos show bruising to Darren Wilson's face after the incident.

:: According to witnesses and blood and evidence found inside the vehicle, Officer Wilson fired two shots as he struggled with Mr Brown, grazing the teenager's hand.

:: Mr Brown fled east on Canfield Drive, pursued by Officer Wilson. Mr Brown then stopped and turned back towards Officer Wilson.

:: Officer Wilson also stopped. Witnesses gave conflicting accounts of whether the 18-year-old walked, stumbled or charged, but according to the prosecutor's summary, the officer fired five shots as Mr Brown charged him, then another five shots as he made what one witness described as "a full charge".

:: Some witnesses described Mr Brown's hands as being raised in surrender, while others said they were down or out to the sides.

:: Some people who claimed to be witnesses said Mr Brown was shot in the back, but changed their stories when autopsies suggested no bullets entered through his back, Mr McCulloch said.

:: Mr McCulloch said other witnesses, African Americans who had not spoken out publicly, consistently said Mr Brown had threatened the officer.

:: Mr Brown was shot about 153ft from Officer Wilson's patrol car. He had six or seven wounds including to the forehead, top of his head, chest, right arm and forearm. The confrontation and shooting lasted about 90 seconds.