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Menezes police photo claim wrong Menezes police photo claim wrong
(30 minutes later)
Police wrongly claimed they were unable to access photographs which could have ruled out Jean Charles de Menezes as a bomb suspect, an inquest has heard.Police wrongly claimed they were unable to access photographs which could have ruled out Jean Charles de Menezes as a bomb suspect, an inquest has heard.
An inspector had said they were unable to contact the DVLA, which was sending a copy of the suspect's licence.An inspector had said they were unable to contact the DVLA, which was sending a copy of the suspect's licence.
In a new statement, Detective Inspector Kevin Southworth said he now accepted his understanding was "erroneous".In a new statement, Detective Inspector Kevin Southworth said he now accepted his understanding was "erroneous".
Mr de Menezes was shot by police at London's Stockwell station after being mistaken for a failed 21 July bomber.Mr de Menezes was shot by police at London's Stockwell station after being mistaken for a failed 21 July bomber.
The inquest heard on Wednesday that Det Insp Southworth said he wanted to correct his evidence. In a statement submitted to the jury, Det Insp Southworth said: "I accept that my understanding was erroneous and I am anxious to correct my evidence in this respect."
The innocent Brazilian, 27, was shot two hours before pictures of the real 21/7 suspect, Hussain Osman, arrived.The innocent Brazilian, 27, was shot two hours before pictures of the real 21/7 suspect, Hussain Osman, arrived.
During the summing up of the inquest by coroner Sir Michael Wright, it emerged police could have accessed DVLA's Swansea headquarters at any time.During the summing up of the inquest by coroner Sir Michael Wright, it emerged police could have accessed DVLA's Swansea headquarters at any time.
This tough, fit, highly-trained, mature man broke down in tears and this fact may assist you in assessing the depth of the emotional experience that he was going through Sir Michael Wright The eyewitness versions that are produced... are likely to vary in a very substantial, and sometimes almost bizarre, degree Sir Michael Wright
On Tuesday the coroner told the jury it would not be able to consider a verdict of unlawful killing.On Tuesday the coroner told the jury it would not be able to consider a verdict of unlawful killing.
Sir Michael said that having heard all the evidence, a verdict of unlawful killing was "not justified". The jury may return either an open or lawful killing verdict.Sir Michael said that having heard all the evidence, a verdict of unlawful killing was "not justified". The jury may return either an open or lawful killing verdict.
The 11-strong jury has heard from 100 witnesses since the inquest began at the Oval Cricket Ground, in London, in September.The 11-strong jury has heard from 100 witnesses since the inquest began at the Oval Cricket Ground, in London, in September.
Among them were the two firearms officers, known only as C2 and C12, who shot Mr de Menezes. The coroner said the jury would have to decide whether differences in police officers' accounts were caused by "failure of recollection" or by "misunderstandings and failures of communication" at the time.
The coroner earlier told the jury that the verdict they chose depended on whether they felt that those two officers honestly believed the Brazilian represented an imminent, mortal threat and whether lethal force was justified in those circumstances. Summarising the evidence on Wednesday, Sir Michael reminded the jurors of a series of discrepancies highlighted during the inquest, which included:
In 2007, the Metropolitan Police was fined £175,000 over the shooting of Mr de Menezes, after the force was convicted under the Health and Safety Act of "endangering the public".
But the trial concluded that police chief Cressida Dick, who led the operation, bore "no personal culpability", and Sir Michael told the inquest jury that their verdict could not be inconsistent with that decision.
'Recollection'
The jury was also given a series of questions to consider based on what they have heard.
These included whether C12 shouted a warning - "Armed police" - before opening fire, and whether Mr de Menezes stood up and moved towards officers as they approached.
The coroner also said the jury would have to decide whether differences in police officers' accounts were caused by "failure of recollection" or by "misunderstandings and failures of communication" at the time.
Summarising the evidence, Sir Michael reminded the jurors of a series of discrepancies highlighted during the inquest, which included:
  • Scotland Yard commanders said they ordered a firearms team to be sent to an address linked to Osman in Tulse Hill, south London, as soon as possible on the morning of 22 July 2005. But senior firearms advisers said they were not told about this requirement and a team was never deployed to the property.
  • Scotland Yard commanders said they ordered a firearms team to be sent to an address linked to Osman in Tulse Hill, south London, as soon as possible on the morning of 22 July 2005. But senior firearms advisers said they were not told about this requirement and a team was never deployed to the property.
  • Senior officers decided not to close bus stops in Tulse Hill, fearing this could draw attention to the police operation in the area. But some officers apparently thought the bus stops had been closed.
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  • Senior officers decided not to close bus stops in Tulse Hill, fearing this could draw attention to the police operation. But some officers apparently thought the bus stops had been closed.
  • By around 9.45am, commanders in the operations room at New Scotland Yard believed Mr de Menezes was no longer thought to be Osman. But at this point surveillance teams on the ground were undecided about whether the Brazilian was the suspect.
  • By around 9.45am, commanders in the operations room at New Scotland Yard believed Mr de Menezes was no longer thought to be Osman. But at this point surveillance teams on the ground were undecided about whether the Brazilian was the suspect.
    • Sir Michael said the jury should recall the moment highly-trained firearms officer C12 broke down in tears in the courtroom. The coroner also warned that the witness accounts of commuters in the carriage at the time of the shooting varied substantially.
    Sir Michael said: "They illustrate the well-known truth that, where a varying number of people perceive the same unexplained, frightening, shocking, violent and fast-moving incident, the eyewitness versions that are produced thereafter are likely to vary in a very substantial, and sometimes almost bizarre, degree."
    He added that the jury should recall the moment highly-trained firearms officer C12 broke down in tears in the courtroom.
    "This tough, fit, highly-trained, mature man broke down in tears and this fact may assist you in assessing the depth of the emotional experience that he was going through here when he was reliving the terrible events of July 22.""This tough, fit, highly-trained, mature man broke down in tears and this fact may assist you in assessing the depth of the emotional experience that he was going through here when he was reliving the terrible events of July 22."