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De Menezes killing what the
witnesses saw
Sean Rayment
London
Independent
Sunday November 4, 2007
Graphic eye-witness accounts of the last seconds of the life
of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian mistakenly shot by the
police in July 2005, will be released to the public for the first
time this week.
The release of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)
report is one of three hurdles the head of the Metropolitan Police,
Sir Ian Blair, will have to clear in the next 12 days in order
to keep his job.
Britain's most senior policeman is so far defying calls for his
resignation since the Met was found guilty on Thursday of "fundamental
failures" in the anti-terror operation that led to the 24-year-old
Brazilian's death in a Tube carriage at Stockwell station the
day after a failed bomb attack on London.
However, it appeared last night that Sir Ian could escape personal
censure in the report, although it will criticise Commanders John
McDowell and Cressida Dick, who ran the operation that led to
the death of Mr de Menezes, according to a the News of the World.
(Article continues below)
The IPCC is believed to have suggested that prosecutors must
consider if Commander Dick was "grossly negligent".
It also reportedly concluded that Commander McDowell failed to
brief colleagues properly.
Sir Ian could also face a vote of no confidence this week by
the Met's political watchdog, the Metropolitan Police Authority.
He must also appear before the Greater London Assembly.
The IPCC will tomorrow decide when to make its report into the
incident public. Kept secret while legal action over the shooting
took place, the report contains evidence that has not yet entered
the public realm, an IPCC spokesman said.
"The report will fill in a lot of the gaps," he said.
"The trial did not give a full picture in that certain witnesses
were not called. It will give a clear idea of what happened on
the Tube train itself."
The report sets out the law and will make recommendations for
the future. It has already been considered by the Crown Prosecution
Service, which decided there was insufficient evidence to charge
individual officers. But details of Mr de Menezes' last moments
– he is believed to have been shot seven times in the face
– will reignite debate over the Met's handling of the case
and make clear whether or not the 27-year-old electrician acted
aggressively towards the police.
A key defence of the Met is that in the immediate aftermath of
the 7 July bombings and the failed bomb plot of 21 July, the armed
officers had to make a split-second life-or-death decision on
whether Mr de Menezes – mistaken for a terrorist –
was carrying a bomb.
The Met was fined £175,000 on Thursday, plus £385,000
costs, after it was convicted at the Old Bailey of exposing the
public to unnecessary risk under health and safety law. Critics
of Sir Ian Blair say he should take responsibility for the force's
failings and what were described as 19 " catastrophic errors".
One former senior officer alleged that Sir Ian, 54, has lost
all support among rank-and-file police and some senior officers.
"He should quit," he said. "Blair is out of his
depth... A member [of] the selection panel [when Sir Ian was chosen]
said if you're faced with three lemons and a raspberry you go
for the raspberry."
Sir Ian does have important backers, however. The Mayor of London,
Ken Livingstone, is unswerving in his support, as is the Home
Secretary, Jacqui Smith.
His supporters point out that the jury found that no individual
should be held responsible for Mr de Menezes' death and that the
failings were not " systemic".
Glen Smyth, Metropolitan Police Federation chief, said: "Sir
Ian has not been treated fairly. It is nothing but naked political
opportunism to seek his resignation."
Next in line? Contenders for Met's top job
Sir Hugh Orde
Chief Constable of Police Service of Northern Ireland. Former
Met officer who helped develop race relations strategy. Has spent
five years in Belfast.
Ian Johnston
Head of the British Transport Police and former Assistant Commissioner
of the Met.
Sir Ronnie Flanagan
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary who advised on
reforms to Iraqi police. Former Chief Constable of Royal Ulster
Constabulary and its successor, the Police Service of Northern
Ireland.
Mike Todd
Chief Constable of Greater Manchester and former Met Assistant
Commissioner, where he was in charge of policing the Notting Hill
Carnival. A skilled media operator.
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