THE Cousin of Jean Charles de Menezes, Erionaldo da Silva said yesterday: ‘I have spoken to Jean Charles’ mother Maria, in Brazil and she said nothing can bring Charles back.
‘But she is pleased that the jury have found the Metropolitan Police guilty of the charge.’
He was speaking outside the Old Bailey after the Met was found guilty on the health and safety charge of putting the public in danger and causing the death of the innocent young Brazilian electrician.
Da Silva continued: ‘It is the first public recognition of the failing of the Metropolitan Police that led to the death of our cousin Jean, an innocent man shot dead at Stockwell Tube.
‘It remains then for the full truth about Charles’ death is made public and those responsible for his death are held accountable in a court of law.
‘We are now awaiting a full and thorough inquest where we as a family will finally be able to participate and seek answers to all of our questions.
‘We will not rest in our fight for justice.’
Family lawyer Harriet Wistrich said: ‘The police defence team descended to the gutter seeking to shift the blame onto the innocent victim for their own wrongdoing.
‘We deplore the tactics of the defence and the smearing of Jean Charles’ name.’
She added: ‘We note the judge’s observations that the two senior officers giving evidence consider they would have done nothing different in retrospect.’
She stressed: ‘Questions must be asked of a firearms strategy that effectively became an unstoppable machine intent on extinguishing the life of an unarmed suspect.’
Cousin Alex Pereira added: ‘The police got it wrong on July 7 and they got it wrong when they killed Jean Charles.’
The Old Bailey jury found the Office of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police guilty of a single breach of health and safety in relation to the July 22 2005 shooting, however, it said the commander in charge of the armed operation, Cressida Dick, bore ‘no personal culpability’.
The judge fined the Met Police £175,000 and ordered the force to pay £385,000 in costs.
Mr Justice Henriques said: ‘This was very much an isolated breach brought about by quite extraordinary circumstances. One person died and many others were placed in potential danger.’
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair refused to resign.
