Menezes Tube driver wins payout

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The driver of the Tube train on which Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead has received £1,000 compensation for trauma suffered after the incident.

Quincy Oji was caught up in the events at Stockwell Tube station in south London in July 2005 after Mr de Menezes was mistaken for a suicide bomber.

Mr Oji ran through an underground tunnel after the shooting and fell to the ground as he was chased by police.

His claim for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was initially turned down.

But he appealed against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and was awarded £1,000.

Keith Norman, leader of the train drivers' union Aslef, which supported the claim, said compensation was initially resisted because it was argued Mr Oji was some distance from the shooting.

'Deserved compensation'

"I have never come across such spurious arguments to avoid paying compensation to someone who clearly deserves recompense," he said.

"I'm delighted that we finally have recognition of the trauma suffered, even if £1,000 hardly reflects what driver Oji has endured."

Andrew Hutson, from Thompsons solicitors, who worked on the case, added: "To my mind it would have been a grave injustice if the CICA had got away with refusing to offer any compensation."

He said the appeal acknowledged the stresses endured by Mr Oji four years ago.

Last December a jury returned an open verdict at an inquest into the death of Mr de Menezes, who was shot seven times.

The jury was given the choice of two possible verdicts but chose to reject the option that Mr Menezes was killed lawfully by the police.

Last week a police officer who admitted altering his notes about the Brazilian's death was cleared following an inquiry.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the officer had acted naively but found no evidence of deliberate deception.