This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6208836.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Menezes case goes to High Court | Menezes case goes to High Court |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The decision not to prosecute police officers over the death of Jean Charles de Menezes violated his family's human rights, a court has heard. | |
| The comments were made by a barrister representing them at the High Court. | The comments were made by a barrister representing them at the High Court. |
| The Brazilian was shot after police mistook him for a suicide bomber on a London Tube train on 22 July last year. | The Brazilian was shot after police mistook him for a suicide bomber on a London Tube train on 22 July last year. |
| The Metropolitan Police faces a trial under health and safety laws, but the High Court is being asked to quash a decision not to prosecute individuals. | |
| Fifteen officers were investigated, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute. | |
| 'Lack of reasoning' | |
| Michael Mansfield QC, who appeared for the family, told the court in London that if no individual was held personally accountable for his death "the rule of law is undermined". | Michael Mansfield QC, who appeared for the family, told the court in London that if no individual was held personally accountable for his death "the rule of law is undermined". |
| He also argued the law had been misapplied and there had been "lack of reasoning as well as misdirections". | He also argued the law had been misapplied and there had been "lack of reasoning as well as misdirections". |
| We are bringing this challenge because we believe that individuals should bear responsibility for this crime Menezes family spokesman | We are bringing this challenge because we believe that individuals should bear responsibility for this crime Menezes family spokesman |
| "No reasonable prosecutor could have come to these conclusions," he said. | "No reasonable prosecutor could have come to these conclusions," he said. |
| Mr Mansfield said the decision not to prosecute was a violation of the family's rights under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protected the right to life and also required an adequate trial or inquiry to "deter life-endangering conduct in future". | Mr Mansfield said the decision not to prosecute was a violation of the family's rights under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protected the right to life and also required an adequate trial or inquiry to "deter life-endangering conduct in future". |
| The review is likely to go on for two days and is being heard at the court by Lord Justice Richards, sitting with Mr Justice Forbes and Mr Justice Mackay. | The review is likely to go on for two days and is being heard at the court by Lord Justice Richards, sitting with Mr Justice Forbes and Mr Justice Mackay. |
| 'Flawed tactics'? | 'Flawed tactics'? |
| The Menezes family's lawyers have said the handling of the case has "the appearance of a stitch-up" and amounted to a breach of his family's human rights. | The Menezes family's lawyers have said the handling of the case has "the appearance of a stitch-up" and amounted to a breach of his family's human rights. |
| A spokesman for the Jean Charles de Menezes family campaign said: "The Met's organisational failure and flawed tactics led to Jean's death. | A spokesman for the Jean Charles de Menezes family campaign said: "The Met's organisational failure and flawed tactics led to Jean's death. |
| "But within the Met, individuals devised the shoot-to-kill policy, individuals ordered Jean's killing and individuals shot the seven bullets in his head. | "But within the Met, individuals devised the shoot-to-kill policy, individuals ordered Jean's killing and individuals shot the seven bullets in his head. |
| "We are bringing this challenge because we believe that individuals should bear responsibility for this crime. | "We are bringing this challenge because we believe that individuals should bear responsibility for this crime. |
| "Otherwise a message is sent out that police officers can kill with impunity." | "Otherwise a message is sent out that police officers can kill with impunity." |
| The force is accused of failing to provide for the health, safety and welfare of Mr Menezes, 27, on the day he was shot seven times in the head at Stockwell Tube station. |