We’ll continue fight for justice, says family

THE FAMILY of Jean Charles de Menezes pledged yesterday that they would not rest in their fight for justice and said they were awaiting a full and thorough inquest.

A statement read by solicitor Harriet Wistrich on behalf of the family, lawyers and campaigners said the police defence team had descended into the gutter.

She said: “The family are pleased that these proceedings have come to a conclusion and look forward to being able to effectively participate in the inquest that must now follow”, adding that “they ask why it was necessary for the police to plead not guilty in the first place, when evidence of catastrophic failings were so overwhelming”.

“Instead the police defence team descended to the gutter, seeking to shift the blame on to the innocent victim from their own wrongdoing”

“We deplore the tactics of the defence, and the smearing of Jean Charles’ name”, adding “this was compounded by the cynical manipulation of two images in the composite photo of Jean Charles and the suspect Hussain Osman, the latter photo of questionable origin”.

“We note the judge’s observations that the two senior officers giving evidence consider they would have done nothing different in retrospect. We hope that they will now reflect on this, and that the MPS will review their position.”

Ms Wistrich talked about “glaring” errors that had been made.

“While the evidence heard at the trial confirmed serious failings, particularly at control room level with regard to the conduct of the police operation that morning, the outcome of the trial leaves many questions unanswered.

“In particular, no evidence was heard from the officers responsible for shooting Jean Charles, or from any of the civilian passengers who witnessed the shooting.

“This serious omission enabled the defence to suggest that there was something about Jean Charles’s behaviour on the Tube that led him to be shot.”