‘JEAN Charles did not run from the police. He was unjustly assassinated on the London metro,’ the brother of Jean Charles de Menezes said yesterday.
Jean Charles was held and shot through the head seven times and once in the shoulder by armed police on a tube train at Stockwell station, on Friday July 22.
His brother Giovanni told a press conference before the family’s return to Brazil that they expected the inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to ‘uncover the errors of the police and the lies exposed by the family.’
He added: ‘The police failed many times. We don’t agree with what the police said.’
He added: ‘We want the whole world to know the truth. We are thankful to one person who gave us confidential information about the IPCC inquiry.
‘She even went to jail for us.
‘We thank her for giving information to us that the police hid from the family. She deserves our gratitude.’
He added: ‘No money can compensate for the death of an innocent person.
‘We want to see an end to the shoot to kill policy.’
Maria Otone de Menezes, Jean Charles’s mother, said: ‘I’m looking for justice and I hope no mother in the whole world feels the pain I have now, because what I feel is so hard.
‘The police did their job wrong. They are still free. they are not in prison at all.
‘They did wrong. I hope you find the truth and they go to prison.
‘I don’t feel very well and I cannot talk any more.’
Alex Pereira, the cousin of Jean Charles, said the family were not informed of Jean Charles’s death until 30 hours later.
Talking about the family’s visit to the scene, he said: ‘We saw very strange things at Stockwell.
‘Afterwards, we went to the IPCC to see how everything works and we made a lot of questions and most of them they did not answer.’
‘We’re so angry they didn’t go to the scene of the crime on Black Friday when they first heard about what happened.
‘I think they spent Friday and Saturday to make everything up, to cover everything up.
‘The IPCC just took everything over five days later.
‘They think everybody’s stupid people. Not just the family. They should answer to the British people.’
Patricia Da Silva Armani, a cousin of Jean Charles, said: ‘I’m disappointed. At first I thought that justice in the UK was more rapid.
‘One person came and told us when this happens in England, the Queen or Prime Minister used to send a letter of condolence to the family.
‘But in this case we haven’t received any condolences or any letter from them.’
Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer for the family, said a complaint had been lodged with the IPCC ‘over the extremely long delay’ before the family were informed of Jean Charles’s death and another ‘about the misinformation that was put out at the start of the case.
‘We certainly know (Metropolitan Police chief) Ian Blair made a statement that he (Jean Charles) didn’t stop when challenged.’
Responding to questions, Alex Pereira said: ‘I think everything happened inside the place (Stockwell station). That’s why the (CCTV) tapes disappeared. I don’t believe the tapes didn’t work.’
He added: ‘And they previously shot seven times a guy in London. I met his mother.
‘They think they can kill anyone and say that’s okay.
‘But now everyone is coming together.’
