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Menezes 'did not fear' UK police Menezes 'concerned about safety'
(about 5 hours later)
A cousin of Jean Charles de Menezes has told his inquest that the Brazilian had no reason to fear the police. Jean Charles de Menezes warned two cousins not to be in "the wrong place at the wrong time" hours before he was shot by police, an inquest has heard.
Alex Pereira, 31, said his cousin had been stopped by police up to four times but the encounters did not bother him. The Brazilian telephoned the two women, with whom he had shared a London flat, to check on them after the failed 21 July 2005 bombings, jurors were told.
He described his cousin as a hard-working, ambitious self-taught electrician, who regularly sent money home to support his family. Another cousin told the inquest the 27-year-old had no reason to fear police.
Mr de Menezes was shot dead in July 2005 by police in London who mistook him for a would-be suicide bomber. Mr de Menezes was shot dead in July 2005 by police in London who mistook
The 27-year-old was shot after he boarded a train at Stockwell Tube station in south London. him for a would-be suicide bomber.
Vivian Figueiredo, who grew up with Mr de Menezes in Brazil, said in a statement that her cousin had become concerned after the London suicide bombings of the 7 July 2005 and the failed attacks of 21 July.
Jean said we needed to pray and hope not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That was in fact the last conversation I had with him Vivian FigueiredoCousin
"I felt quite scared. I felt that London was beginning to become a dangerous place to live. I was wondering where we should live.
"Jean said we needed to pray and hope not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That was in fact the last conversation I had with him."
Mr de Menezes was killed after he boarded a train at Stockwell Tube station in south London.
Firearms officers mistook him for missing failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman on 22 July, the day after Osman and three other men failed in suicide bombing attempts.Firearms officers mistook him for missing failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman on 22 July, the day after Osman and three other men failed in suicide bombing attempts.
When Mr de Menezes had dealings with the UK police, he had found them "very polite", his cousin said. 'Searched'
In the statement, read out during the third day of the inquest, Ms Figueiredo also revealed her cousin had been stopped and searched by police at Brixton Tube station in south London less than a month before he was shot.
Patricia da Silva Armani, another cousin who lived with Mr de Menezes, said the family was not told he was dead until a day after the shooting.
Why would he be scared of the police? Patricia da Silva ArmaniCousin
"I thought he was in police custody and I did not realise it was the Stockwell shooting," she said. "When police started speaking I could not understand a lot of what was being said.
"Then I made the connection with the news. My head started spinning and my stomach was turning."
Another cousin, Alex Pereira, said Mr de Menezes had been stopped by police up to four times but the encounters did not bother him and he had no reason to fear the police.
The 31-year-old said when his cousin had dealings with UK officers, he had found them "very polite".
"We came from Brazil and it is very common for police to stop people there and even police carry a gun in Brazil so it does not scare us," Mr Pereira said."We came from Brazil and it is very common for police to stop people there and even police carry a gun in Brazil so it does not scare us," Mr Pereira said.
"Why would he be scared of the police?""Why would he be scared of the police?"
Dream of better lifeDream of better life
Mr de Menezes' dream had been to travel to America or the UK, in the belief that living abroad "would bring a better life for everybody", his cousin said.Mr de Menezes' dream had been to travel to America or the UK, in the belief that living abroad "would bring a better life for everybody", his cousin said.
THE MENEZES KILLING What happened in more detailTHE MENEZES KILLING What happened in more detail
Initially prepared to do whatever work he could get, he learned English quickly and was pleased to get a job as an electrician. He sent money home to his family and girlfriend Adriana, who had a child from a previous relationship. His cousin was so happy in England that Mr Pereira thought he would try to stay there permanently.
"He was a guy that liked to learn and fought to make life better because he came from a place where everything is very difficult," his cousin said. On Tuesday, jurors retraced his final steps, including where he was shot dead by police. They also visited the flat where he lived in Tulse Hill, south London.
"It has become better now but at the time, it was very, very hard and since he was a little boy, he studied to become an electrician," he added.
Mr de Menezes sent money home to his family and girlfriend Adriana, who had a child from a previous relationship. His cousin was so happy in England that Mr Pereira thought he would try to stay there permanently.
Final steps
On Tuesday, jurors retraced his final steps, including where he was shot dead by police.
They also visited the flat where he lived in Tulse Hill, south London.
A shrine to Mr de Menezes, featuring pictures, flowers and newspaper cuttings about the shooting, still stands outside the station.
On Monday - the first day of the 12-week inquest into Mr de Menezes' death - jurors were told firearms officers made a split-second decision to kill him.On Monday - the first day of the 12-week inquest into Mr de Menezes' death - jurors were told firearms officers made a split-second decision to kill him.
Sir Michael said the two officers were "convinced" Mr de Menezes was about to detonate a device on the Tube. Coroner Sir Michael Wright, sitting in a courtroom at the Oval cricket ground, said the two officers were "convinced" Mr de Menezes was about to detonate a device on the Tube.
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Jury members arrive at Stockwell tube stationJury members arrive at Stockwell tube station
The two firearms officers - identified only as Charlie Two and Charlie 12 - will give evidence in public for the first time later in the inquest.The two firearms officers - identified only as Charlie Two and Charlie 12 - will give evidence in public for the first time later in the inquest.
The jury will consider whether or not Mr de Menezes was unlawfully killed.The jury will consider whether or not Mr de Menezes was unlawfully killed.
Some of Mr de Menezes' relatives have campaigned for police officers involved in the shooting to be prosecuted.
There have been five inquiries relating to the death and its aftermath, including a criminal trial.There have been five inquiries relating to the death and its aftermath, including a criminal trial.
In 2007, an Old Bailey jury found the Metropolitan Police guilty of breaching health and safety laws, after hearing about the events leading up to Mr de Menezes being shot.In 2007, an Old Bailey jury found the Metropolitan Police guilty of breaching health and safety laws, after hearing about the events leading up to Mr de Menezes being shot.