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Brazilian's death 'chaotic mess'
18/08/2005 23:54 - (SA)
London - Lawyers for the family of a Brazilian electrician, Jean-Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead by British police after being mistaken for a suicide bomber, denounced as a "chaotic mess" the way his wrongful killing was being dealt with.
Speaking after a meeting with the independent agency looking into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, they called for a speedy investigation into his death, after learning that it could take up to three years to complete.
De Menezes, 27, was shot dead in Stockwell Underground station on July 22, a day after a failed attempt to repeat the London bombings of July 7 that left 56 people dead, including four apparent suicide bombers.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Ian Blair said at the time the shooting was "directly linked to the ongoing and expanding anti-terrorist operation", and that the victim had ignored police warnings.
De Menezes shot seven times
Blair was now facing calls to resign, after leaked documents revealed that De Menezes was not wearing a heavy coat that could have concealed a bomb, as claimed at the time, nor was he running to flee the police.
The documents, disclosed on ITV television, also revealed that De Menezes, who was on his way to work, was restrained by an officer when he was shot seven times in the head, and once in the shoulder, in front of horrified commuters.
His death brought to light a secret policy, adopted by Blair's predecessor, enabling armed police to shoot and kill - on a superior officer's say-so - a suspected suicide bomber in the head.
Gareth Peirce, a lawyer for the De Menezes family, said: "This has been a chaotic mess."
Incompetence, negligence
Peirce was speaking outside her north London law office, where she met officials from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
She said: "What we have asked the IPCC to find out is how much is incompetence, negligence or gross negligence and how much of it is something sinister."
Together with fellow lawyer Harriet Wistrich, Peirce said her major concern was why the IPCC - required by law to investigate all police shootings - was not immediately called in to investigate the De Menezes's death.
She said: "The IPCC mentioned delays of two to three years."
Outcome of death
She said: "The large part of the blame for that lies at the door of the Crown Prosecution Service", which would decide if any murder charges should be laid.
"We don't want to be waiting, as with some families who are waiting for the outcome of death in custody cases, for more than three years".
The lawyers, now wary of the credibility of both the police and the IPCC after this week's leak, called for a broad public inquiry.
Mayor Ken Livingstone stood up for police commissioner Blair, whose 48 000-strong force - one of the biggest in the world - had been tested to the limit by the July 7 bombings and the failed July 21 reprise.
- AFP
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