"All We Want is the Truth" - Menezes Inquest Opens on Monday
Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign | 20.09.2008 13:08 | Repression | Social Struggles | Terror War | London
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.
On Monday, as the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes opens, Jean's family will finally get the opportunity to examine key evidence about how he was killed in a public court and for the first time.
The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes begins on Monday 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, 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"
:
Jean Charles cousins in the UK will be attending the inquest and arriving at the venue at 9.30am on Monday. They will make a short statement at the end of the first day of the inquest, outside of the Oval venue.
A detailed briefing on the inquest, the key issues that will be explored and the family's expectations can be downloaded from
http://www.justice4jean.org. A blog with regular updates, information and comment from the campaign is also up and can be accessed from the campaign website.
Jean Charles de Menezes brother and mother will be arriving from Brazil on the 3rd October. They will be attending the inquest for a month from this date.
For further information please contact
justice4jean@gmail.com or call 07944069956 or 07931337890.
The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes begins on Monday 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, 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"
:
Jean Charles cousins in the UK will be attending the inquest and arriving at the venue at 9.30am on Monday. They will make a short statement at the end of the first day of the inquest, outside of the Oval venue.
A detailed briefing on the inquest, the key issues that will be explored and the family's expectations can be downloaded from
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Jean Charles de Menezes brother and mother will be arriving from Brazil on the 3rd October. They will be attending the inquest for a month from this date.
For further information please contact
![](/img/maillink.gif)
Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign
e-mail:
justice4jean@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.justice4jean.org
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
'Paddick to reveal shoot-to-kill concerns at Menezes inquest'
20.09.2008 21:42
excerpt from "Paddick to reveal shoot-to-kill concerns at Menezes inquest"
One of Sir Ian Blair's most senior officers is set to give devastating evidence at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes.
The Scotland Yard Commissioner is fighting an attempt by former deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick to testify against the force. Mr Paddick quit the Met in the wake of the July 2005 killing of the Brazilian.
The family of Mr de Menezes, 27, who was shot dead by firearms officers who mistook him for a suicide bomber, want the coroner to call Mr Paddick in the inquest which begins next month.
His testimony could be highly damaging to the Metropolitan Police and the embattled Commissioner.
Mr Paddick is on a list of witnesses put forward to the coroner by Michael Mansfield, QC, who is representing the de Menezes family. But in a major behind-the-scenes row lawyers for the Met and the Police Federation are attempting to block the move.
The police lawyers claim that Mr Paddick's evidence is not relevant to how Mr de Menezes died. They will ask the coroner not to call him.
Mr Paddick quit the Met saying that he had been sidelined by Sir Ian because he disputed the Commissioner's version of events about what happened on the day of the shooting.
An independent inquiry later found that Sir Ian had told the truth about what happened.
However, Mr Paddick is now thought to be preparing to tell the inquest of his reservations about the Met's shoot-to-kill policy, termed Operation Kratos.
Justin Davenport
Homepage:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23533056-details/Paddick+to+reveal+shoot-to-kill+concerns+at+Menezes+inquest/article.do
Thanks again to our whistleblower
21.09.2008 10:43
The circumstances surrounding the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes would not have come to the public's attention without whistleblower Lana Vandenbergh. Lana worked as an administration secretary for the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Jean Charles de Menezes, an innocent man, was shot and killed at Stockwell tube station on the London Underground by police. Initially, police falsely claimed that he was wearing bulky clothing, had vaulted the ticket barriers and run from police. It soon become clear that de Menezes did not vault and run from the police, but police did not correct the misinformation until the correct information was leaked to the press. At first the police tried to cover up this dreadful mistake. Vandenbergh leaked details of the police enquiry, which was very different from the version then in the public domain.
rz
F.Y.I. Steven O'Doherty - heads investigation of deaths in police custody...
22.09.2008 09:35
Steve has an interesting history when it is considered that most deaths in police custody are black and asian was he was found GUILTY of victimisation on a racial basis with regards to a lovely little asian lass who he victimised on a racial basis.
Mr. O'Doherty is and was a racist... how can anyone seriously expect justice with that filth placed in such a position of authority?
Thank about it...
Cahrity XXX
Charity Sweet
e-mail:
charitysweet@hotmail.co.uk
Jean's Death Brings shame of the police, the system.
23.09.2008 21:16
There is no excuse for the killing of this man, I fully support his brave and dignified family who have shown such courage and I would hope to see an end to all the cover up and lies
George Coombs
e-mail:
georgecmbs@tiscali.co.uk
who censors this site?
28.09.2008 19:49
Russell
Anonymity for State killers was invented as part of the repressive terror laws begun in the north of Ireland (if memory serves me right the Gibraltar assassinations were the first time anonymity was granted to a State law enforcement witness). Anonymity is manipulated by the State to hide identities of witnesses who might otherwise be recognised or challenged about their history or character. The anonymity of all soldiers at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry made a farce of a public inquiry.
In theory anonymity is to protect the life or safety of the witness. This is absurd in an Inquest were the anonymous witnesses are armed police officer with all the protection of the State and the family of an innocent man are denied knowing the names of their son's killers.
Russell
oops
29.09.2008 08:13
Russell