3 years on, how do you feel about the Jean Charles de Menezes murder?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Charles_de_Menezes

To summarise, the British Police shot the wrong man... 11 times in the head on a busy tube.

Initially, they claimed that he had been wearing a winter coat and a large rucksack, and had ran from the police as they chased him, jumping over the station turn style and boarding a tube.

It later emerged that that was, in fact, a complete lie. An officer was watching a block of flats, and de Menezes lived there. The officer called it in, stating he looked like a terrorist they were looking for. The next officer was busy weeing, and missed identifying him.

To cut a long story short, he was a Brazilian man, working legally as an electrician in London. He left his flat, heading for a job, and boarded a tube. Unknown to him, he was being followed, then was shot 11 times in the head in front of a load of people.

Answer 1

Just goes to say that inspite of all the training that goes into these high profile professions- those which can save and guard and even take lives, they are humans after all. Panic over took the cops that day and didnt check their manual before pulling the triggers. They were also looking for immortal fame and medals and must have thought, 'this is it, the moment of my life..' and killed an innocent man!

Answer 2

Let us not forget he was not here legally and ran away when challenged so he was not just an innocent. I accept that from the moment this terrible incident occured the police mishandled it and did their reputaion no end of damage    

Answer 3

Unfortunately in this era of heightened anxiety about the terrorist threat there are going to be tragic mistakes - like this one. I don't know if we will ever know the true story.

Answer 4

Disgusting. But what I want to know is what happened to all those supposed 'eye-witnesses' who gave interviews to the media on the day saying that they saw a man wearing a heavy leather coat vault the ticker barriers. Were these 'eye-witnesses' plants? Where are they now?

Answer 5

My feelings remain the same as when it happened absolute horror and disgust,Britain a fascist state? yes I think we are heading down that route.

Answer 6

was that really 3 years ago. wow!!! the met plonk**s

Answer 7

I worry about the expertise of the police. The selection process and the training of those selected also.

I think its quite worrying that the force responsible for upholding the law are shown to have the same traits as those they apprehend.

I do not trust the police because of this - nor our government. Especially as those who commited this vile act are still allowed to operate as normal.

So if you want to become a criminal who gets away with any crime, it seems all you have to do is join the police force!

Answer 8

Firstly I can't believe that was three year ago but if I'm honest and accept that mistakes were made I don't think the police were all in the wrong. Considering the mood and fear at the time,there seemed to be an air of provocation and although I don't condone the death of any innocent, I feel the suspicion was warranted due to lack of cooperation, which caused the whole tragic affair.  

Answer 9

I still can't believe they could have mistaken him for being Middle Eastern.

Answer 10

You have to wonder a little about the type of person attracted to 'armed response teams' in the first place. We have seen lots of examples since the de Menzes affair where people are killed by police fire in cicumstances where this almost certainly could have been avoided. Generally, somebody at head office and not present at the scene, gives the order to fire. The macho/rambo types then see this as their big opportunity.

Regarding the de Menzes affair. One name that slipped quietly out of the spotlight was 'Cressida d**k'. She was the most senior officer directly in charge of this operation and, as I understand it, was a fast tracked graduate with little hands on experience. She was promoted soon afterwards. It was Ian Blair who took all the flak.  

Answer 11

who?!

Answer 12

it is always foolish, to run from the police.

Answer 13

Was it real [still, after all this time] or staged?

Answer 14

If an armed policeman says stop, you stop.    

Answer 15

Heads should roll over this

Answer 16

I feel sad, very much for his family.  Maybe his life was not in vain if lessons have been learnt

Answer 17

They knew within seconds and then went on the character assignation. not satisfied with the physical assignation they wanted to finish off with character assignation to such a level that no one would think of challenging them. So people would go. well he was an evil man anyway and deserved to die anyway.  

Answer 18

it was a travesty of justice for him and now his family. I cannot understand why if he was a suspect did they allow him to get on the underground to start with.

Answer 19

I've since moved on.

I have deep sympathy for his family left behind, as does anyone I would imagine, who has lost someone dear.

The Police did make a mistake but at that time, so soon after 58 people were killed on 7/7 , tensions were high and WHAT IF he had been a terrorist. Maybe one day, we will find out. I doubt that will ever happen again to anyone. Instead someone will succeed in bombing us again.

Tragic mistake & may cost us very very dear.

Answer 20

I have a friend of a friend who was there & saw the whole incident.

The police statement afterwards were lies about what de menezes was wearing, how he behaved & the lack of a verbal request from the armed WPC who shot him.

Did de menezes look like the real terrorist target that they were watching & due to Human Error allowed to slip away?

I've seen the pictures side by side.

with adrenaline pumping & in the confusion of the incident, yes I suppose a brazilian can look enough like an arab to make this a monumental mistake.

that's exactly what it was a MISTAKE!

A mistake the Police should put their hands up to & admit.

The Health & Safety fine did not go far enough & I doubt charles de menezes family will ever get justice..........

a UK Police state will see to that.

This mutual friend still has nightmares.& is suffering for this.

What can I do but support, listen & comfort her?

I can only wait for the tragic incident she witnessed to slowly fade over time.