Menezes family agree deal

THE family of Jean Charles de Menezes revealed yesterday they have agreed a compensation deal with the Metropolitan Police.

Relatives of the Brazilian have been locked in a legal battle with the force since he was shot dead at Stockwell Tube station on July 22, 2005.

Jean Charles Menezes, 27, was mistaken for failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman by members of the force’s CO19 unit.

In a statement, his family said “all litigation” between them and Scotland Yard has been resolved.

The announcement followed speculation that the pay-out could be substantially lower than expected.

The Daily Mail claimed it may be around £100,000 because de Menezes had no wife or children and came from a poor background.

In a joint statementreleased by the Met, the de Menezes family said the agreement will allow them to “move forward with their lives”.

They said: “The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and representatives of the de Menezes family are pleased to announce that all litigation between them arising out of the tragic death of Jean Charles de Menezes has been resolved.

“In view of the physical and mental distress caused to the members of the family by these events and the understandable publicity and press interest, it has been agreed that it is in the best interests of the family that no further statement in relation to this settlement will be made either by them or the Commissioner.”

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead two weeksafter suicide bombers struck the London transport network on July 7, 2005, killing 52 people.

The Metropolitan Police was convicted of health and safety failures at the Old Bailey and fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £385,000 costs.

The conclusion of court proceedings opened the door for the publication of a critical Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report.

Coroner Sir Michael Wright recorded an open verdict at the end of an inquest last year.

A jury rejected the police account of the shooting at the end of the detailed three-month inquest.