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Last Modified: 08 Oct 2007
By: Simon Israel

Video footage has been released showing the last moments of the Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes - before he was shot dead by police in Stockwell tube station.

The last minutes in the life of Jean Charles de Menezes were released today, labelled "JC" in CCTV footage at the entrance to Stockwell tube station, as he picked up a newspaper and went through the ticket barriers.

A surveillance officer, codenamed Ivor, took an Old Bailey jury through the Brazilian's final journey up to the very point he witnesses the electrician's violent death.

He described how followed the 27-year-old through the ticket hall and down the escalator . Halfway down Mr de Menezes started to run and got on the waiting train. Ivor sat down, two to three seats away.

'After a few moment I felt his head turn towards me. I was aware of C019 officer kneeling on the seat to my left. I heard a gunshot. I was hit by the shock wave of a firearm discharging'
- Surveillance officer, 'Ivor'

He then described how he saw four armed officers CO19 on the platform, put his foot in the door to prevent the doors closing and shouted he's here pointing at the Brazilian who stood up.

"For the safety of the public I grabbed Mr de Menezes by wrapping my arms around his torso, pinning his arms against his side and with by head on the right of his torso drove him back into his seat.

"After a few moment I felt his head turn towards me. I was aware of C019 officer kneeling on the seat to my left. I heard a gunshot. I was hit by the shock wave of a firearm discharging."

The initial surveillance from a van outside the block of flat in Scotia Road missed Mr de Menezes leaving. The officer who was filming departures told the court how he was relieving himself at the moment the Brazilian left and walked past.

From that point on no one in the surveillance team could expressed certainty as to whether he was or wasn't the would be suicide bomber on the gym card photo Hussein Osman.

As Mr de Menezes arrived at Stockwell the surveillance team leader James told how he became frustrated with those in the operational control room at New Scotland Yard who first asked for a percentage figure on likeness to the suspect and later met his repeated requests to detain with the instruction to wait.