jean Charles de Menezes verdict

On Friday

The jury at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes today rejected Scotland Yard's claim that he was lawfully killed as part of an anti-terrorism operation.

Banned by the coroner, Sir Michael Wright, from returning a verdict of unlawful killing, the five men and five women decided on an open verdict – the most critical that was available to them.

In a series of answers to a list of crucial questions, they dismissed the testimony of the senior firearms officer who shot De Menezes – suggesting they did not believe the officer was acting in self-defence.

The jury found that the firearms officer, C12, did not shout "armed police" before shooting De Menezes and that the Brazilian did not move towards him aggressively, prompting the fatal shot.

Harriet Wistrich, solicitor for the De Menezes family, said the officers who claimed to have shouted warnings should be investigated for possible perjury. "There was certainly evidence of perjury by certain officers and the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) should look at it again at this stage and I am sure they will."

In a statement, De Menezes's cousin Patricia Armani da Silva said the jury would have gone further and recorded a verdict of unlawful killing "had they not been gagged by the coroner".

"The jury's verdict is a damning indictment of the multiple failures of the police and the lies they told," she said.

Despite the criticism of police contained in the verdict, the De Menezes family – who were not in court after last week's protests – accused Wright of "presiding over a complete whitewash". They plan to seek a judicial review over the omission of the unlawful killing verdict.

In a stinging attack on the former high court judge, they said he "failed on every count" in the proceedings.

The inquest at the Oval cricket ground, in south London, heard from 100 witnesses, including the two specialist firearms officers – known in court as C12 and C2 – who shot De Menezes dead at point-blank range on a tube carriage at Stockwell station on July 22 2005.

De Menezes was shot after being mistaken for the failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman.

The inquest was the first time the public received a full account of the shooting from key witnesses who were in the train carriage.


see more here
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/menezes
 
That whole thing was f***ing disgusting. I'm happy the judge has listened to members of the public over the cops. I can't explain how much I hate the police right now. My reason is one that I think even the most right-wing members of this board would find justifiable. I don't think I can post it up here for legal reasons, but if anyone really wants to know, pm me...:(
 
That whole thing was f***ing disgusting. I'm happy the judge has listened to members of the public over the cops. I can't explain how much I hate the police right now. My reason is one that I think even the most right-wing members of this board would find justifiable. I don't think I can post it up here for legal reasons, but if anyone really wants to know, pm me...:(


I know how you feel.
I was also harassed by police twice in last 12 months. :(
 
I know how you feel.
I was also harassed by police twice in last 12 months. :(

This particular thing was less the police harassing me, I'm kind of used to that now, even though it still makes me really angry and I still try and resist it. But this is a proper scary, scary thing that has happened to my friend. The court case is still going on, so as I said earlier I don't want to put it up publicly.
 
This particular thing was less the police harassing me, I'm kind of used to that now, even though it still makes me really angry and I still try and resist it. But this is a proper scary, scary thing that has happened to my friend. The court case is still going on, so as I said earlier I don't want to put it up publicly.


Really hope your friend's court case will be favourable verdict to him/her.

British Police has too much power now which is rather worrying.
 
The actions of all police officers should be accountable. To get justice for all, and to ensure that standard of service improves.
If police are unaccountable, they have no incentive to do better, no effective punishment for abuse. It also makes the corruption of officers easier, if they are asked to "turn a blind eye" and put group loyalty before what is right.

There are good police officers, who have the right intentions and work hard. However I have spoken to officers, privately, in the past who said that they would not seek to go beyond a certain level of promotion because, for them, it would mean too much "compromise" for their conscience. It is sad that the best officers are leaving, disillusioned, and the bad ones are let off.

The government policy of giving greater powers without accountability will only make things worse.

I hope your friend gets a fair hearing, Munchy.
 
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