Menezes: 13 questions for jury
Updated on 12 December 2008
The full verdict of the jury at the inquest into the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell tube station.
The verdict
The coroner, Sir Michael Wright took the unusual step of issuing a written questionnaire to the jury. He said they had to decide between "two available short-term verdicts":
Lawful killing
"On the facts of this case, you should return a verdict of lawful killing if you find that officers C2 and C12, when they shot Mr de Menezes, were acting in lawful defence of themselves and/or others."
Open verdict
"If, having considered all the evidence, you consider that the necessary elements of a lawful killing verdict are not established as being more likely than not, you should return an open verdict."
They returned an open verdict. They then had to answer yes, no or cannot decide to 12 further questions (answers shown in bold after each point).
The questionnaire
- Did officer C12 shout the words "armed police" at Mr de Menezes before firing? No
- Did Mr de Menezes stand up from his seat before he was grabbed in a bear hug by officer Ivor? Yes
- Did Mr de Menezes move towards C12 before he was grabbed in a bear hug by officer Ivor? No
Factors for consideration
- Do you consider that any of the following factors caused or contributed to the death of Mr de Menezes?
- The suicide attacks and attempted attacks of July 2005 and the pressure placed upon the Metropolitan Police in responding to the threat. Cannot decide
- A failure to obtain and provide better photographic images of the terror suspect Hussain Osman for the surveillance team. Yes
- A failure by the police to ensure that Mr de Menezes was stopped before he reached public transport. Yes
- The general difficulty in providing an identification of the man under surveillance (Mr de Menezes) in the time available and in the circumstances after he had left the block at Scotia Road. No
- The innocent behaviour of Mr de Menezes which increased the suspicions of some officers. No
- The fact that the views of the surveillance officers regarding identification were not accurately communicated to the command team and the firearms officers. Yes
- The fact that the position of the cars containing the firearms officers was not accurately known to the command team as the firearms officers were approaching Stockwell station. Yes
- There were significant shortcomings in the communications system as it was operating on the day between the various police teams on the ground and with New Scotland Yard. Yes
- A failure to conclude, at the time, that surveillance officers should still be used to carry out the stop of Mr de Menezes at Stockwell Station even after it was reported that specialist firearms officers could perform the stop. Yes
