The truth about Menezes' death

It now appears that the "official" explanation of the death of Jean Charles de Menezes was partially made-up. The BBC is reporting that Menezes was never challenged by police, that he never jumped the ticket barriers, that he only ran to the train because he was late, and that he was wearing a denim jacket rather than a thick winter-style coat. Security video footage and eyewitness reports appear to back this up.

Anyone who suggests that we should relax our laws on civil rights for the sake of security in the face of terrorism should take careful note.

The chances are that Menezes only knew about the police tailing him when the gun was forced into his face on the train. Seconds later he was dead.

If this is true then the police not only killed an innocent suspect, but they also lied in the official report to cover themselves. I was willing to forgive the police involved based upon the heightened level of fear after the terrorist attacks. Now I want the policeman who pulled the trigger to go to gaol for life. I want head police officers sacked.

And what of the official investigators of the case? Well according to the BBC they are "concerned over the alleged leak of documents". Disgusting.

Terrorism should be destroyed, whether by terrorists or lying government departments. Britain has learned nothing from its treatment of IRA suspects in the 1970s, many of whom spent years in gaol despite being totally innocent. This is why we have limits to the powers our police can use.

Update:
The BBC have a very helpful chart comparing the two different accounts of what actually happened. What I've noticed this time around is that the initial account described what witnesses had seen. If the leaked report is actually real, then there needs to be an examination of who these "witnesses" were. Were they fictional ones made up by police? Or were they real people who lied?


From the Department of "Wha Happnin?"

© 2005 Neil McKenzie Cameron, http://one-salient-oversight.blogspot.com/






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