Brazilian’s family calls for ‘real justice’ over shooting
They spoke after the police watchdog delivered its long-awaited report into his death yesterday.
At a press conference, representatives of the Brazilian’s family said they remained “in the dark” after being refused permission to see the full report.
It marks the culmination of the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s (IPCC) six-month inquiry into the death of Mr de Menezes, who was shot after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.
Through an interpreter, a family spokeswoman said: “Everything we have learned over the last few months has strengthened our conviction that those responsible should be prosecuted.
“Real justice can only be found in a court of law.”
She added: “We believed that at least we would be able to read the final report.
“The victims of this tragedy are the last to know.”
It will now be up to the Crown Prosecution Service - Britain’s equivalent of the Director of Public Prosecutions - to decide whether to bring criminal charges against any of the police officers involved.
Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head at Stockwell Tube Station in south London, the day after the alleged July 21 attempted bomb attacks on the London transport network.
The decision to send the report to the CPS means the commission has concluded there is evidence to suggest criminal offences may have been committed.
The electrician’s family are to be given a briefing by IPCC officials.
The CPS is likely to take several months to reach a decision on whether to charge any of the police officers involved.
The BBC claimed last night to have obtained an witness statement given to the IPCC that described how anti-terror officers shot Mr de Menezes 11 times.
It reportedly read: “The shots were evenly spaced, with about three seconds between the shots for the first few shots.
“Then a gap of a little longer. Then the shots were evenly spaced again.”
There are 30 witnesses to the shooting and 600 statements have been taken.
The incident sparked a row over Scotland Yard’s strategy for dealing with potential suicide bombers.
This can involve shooting a suspect in the head to incapacitate them.
It emerged last night that all the police officers interviewed under caution during the IPCC’s investigation could face criminal charges over the shooting.
About 10 officers are understood to have been interviewed under caution and it is believed material in relation to all of them has been sent to the CPS.
This means that in each case the IPCC concluded that criminal offences may have been committed, but it will now be up to the CPS to decide whether to actually bring charges - a much higher test.
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