ON 22nd July 2005, Jean Charles de Menezes, an innocent member of the public, was killed by Metropolitan Police officers in a grotesque and very public fashion. No one has been held accountable for his death.
Today, as the inquest into his death opens, Jean’s family will finally get the opportunity for the first time in a public court to examine key evidence about how he was killed.
The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes begins today at 10.30am at Surrey County Cricket Club, The Brit Oval, Kennington, London, SE11 5SS.
The killing of Jean Charles has attracted unprecedented public disquiet and exposed a catalogue of failings by the Metropolitan Police. It is likely that the inquest into his death will court more controversy, as new evidence is certain to be exposed which will shed further light on the operation that led to Jean’s death.
The inquest proceedings have already attracted criticism over the blanket anonymity awarded to almost 50 police officers. The inquest’s compliance with the state’s obligations for investigating deaths in custody under Article 2 of the Human Rights Act has also been called into question over the public’s ability to participate in proceedings and the efforts by the police to keep documents about the Operation Kratos secret.
The key issue for the Menezes’ family however remains simple, a need to know the truth about how and why their loved one was killed, and for justice to be done.
A spokesperson for the Jean Charles de Menezes’ Family Campaign said :
‘Over the last three years the family have felt humbled by the massive support they have received from ordinary members of the public. It is clear that the killing of Jean Charles struck a note with ordinary people across the country who simply cannot understand how the police can kill an innocent man, allegedly lie about it, and then get away scot-free.
‘We hope that the inquest will bring the family and the public closer to the truth about how and why Jean Charles was killed, and crucially, if he was killed lawfully.’
INQUEST has been working with lawyers representing the family of Jean Charles de Menezes and supporting the family campaign since his tragic shooting in July 2005.
Since Jean Charles’ death, INQUEST has raised specific areas of concern in relation to his shooting. These include:
• The operational and intelligence failings that led to the shooting;
• Operation Kratos – the new ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy and its introduction without parliamentary scrutiny or public debate;
• The lawfulness of the shooting;
• The role of the IPCC in investigating the death;
• The misinformation and lies that were allowed to circulate in public about Jean Charles’ behaviour and demeanour;
• The failure for appropriate criminal charges to have been brought.
INQUEST will be closely monitoring the inquest into Jean Charles’ death to ensure it complies with minimum human rights standards as set out in leading case law and article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (as incorporated in the Human Rights Act 1998).
INQUEST stated: ‘We share the concerns of the family campaign about the blanket anonymity awarded to police officers, the facilities for the public to participate in the inquest and the necessity for key operational documents such as Operation Kratos to be scrutinised publicly.
‘Deaths in custody have been a source of tremendous pain and anger amongst Londoners and has resulted in the relationship between the Metropolitan Police and the community they serve being frequently under severe strain.
‘Public confidence in the police – essential if they are to carry out the job that we need them to do – must not be undermined by any suggestion that the rule of law should not apply to the police.
‘Therefore, it is imperative that the inquest fulfils it role to allay suspicions and rumours surrounding the shooting and for an open and transparent investigation to take place.’
INQUEST has major concerns about the number of fatal shootings by police and the procedures for holding the police to account which serve neither the public interest nor the families of the deceased.
A disturbing number of these deaths could and should have been avoided.
INQUEST believes that the seriousness of this case warrants a fully independent public inquiry into the death and the wider issues it raises.
INQUEST has raised its concerns about the case with government Ministers, MPs and human rights organisations.
Most recently INQUEST monitored the cases of Mark Saunders and Dayniel Tucker, who were shot dead by police officers within the last 12 months.
Concerns have been raised in the High Court about the way in which the investigations into their deaths are conducted.
This related to the disclosure of information to families during an IPCC investigation and the practice of police officers conferring before making their statements. Judgment is expected in October 2008.
Since 1997 there have been 30 fatal police shootings in England & Wales, 13 by Metropolitan Police officers.
Six of the Metropolitan Police shootings have been of men from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities – representing a significantly disproportionate 46% of shootings.
Jean Charles de Menezes’ death raises serious questions about the disproportionate number of young BME men who die following the use of force by police.