Menezes shooting branded 'chaotic mess'

Lawyers for the family of the Brazilian man shot dead on a Tube train last month have branded the investigation into his death a “chaotic mess”.

Gareth Peirce and Harriet Wistrich, who are acting on behalf of 27-year-old Jean Charles de Menezes’ family, have called for a public inquiry into the shooting, following a meeting with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Mr de Menezes was shot dead on a Tube train at Stockwell station after being mistaken for a suspected suicide bomber, on July 22, the day after several four failed bomb attempts on the London transport network. Initially, it was believed that Mr de Menezes was believed to have been wearing a heavy padded jacket and to have run from police, jumping over ticket barriers, before he was finally shot.

However, documents leaked to ITV News on Wednesday contradicted the reports. They suggested that Mr de Menezes was wearing a light denim jacket and walked into the Tube station, stopping to pick up a free newspaper, before boarding the Tube train.

The leaked documents also suggested that a surveillance officer had been able to restrain Mr de Menezes before he was shot.

Ms Peirce called for a public inquiry into Mr de Menezes death and told reporters: “There have been lies that have been told and there have been lies that have been allowed to remain uncorrected.

“What we have asked the IPCC to find out is how much is incompetence, negligence or gross negligence and how much of it is something sinister.”

The lawyers also expressed concerns over why the IPCC’s inquiry into Mr de Menezes death did not begin immediately.

The IPCC issued a statement on Thursday, saying that the Metropolitan Police had initially resisted holding an inquiry into the fatal shooting. Deputy Chair John Wadham said: "The Metropolitan Police Service initially resisted us taking on the investigation but we overcame that. It was an important victory for our independence. This dispute has caused delay in us taking over the investigation but we have worked hard to recover the lost ground.”

Mr Wadham said that the inquiry was making “very good progress”. He said: “We are determined that this investigation will be completed quickly. We are working to get it concluded in between three and six months. The inquiry that we are conducting will be thorough, impartial and we will not be rushing to conclusions.”

(KMcA/SP)