Menezes trial: Policeman gives evidence
Updated on 15 October 2007
The trial of the Metropolitan Police into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes has resumed at the Old Bailey.
The jury has been hearing from a senior firearms officer involved in the operation.
The court heard specialist firearms officers were armed with bullets used by US air marshals that "immediately incapacitate" the victim.
A senior firearms advisor known as "Andrew" to protect his anonymity said the decision was made to help police chasing the failed July 21 suicide bombers who were still at large.
He told the jury hearing the case against the Metropolitan Police, which is on trial accused of "fundamental failures" in handling the operation, the bullets would stop a suicide bomber detonating their device.
The officer, who was Acting Superintendent at the time, told the court that he opted for hollow point 124 grain bullets, which hit the victim but do not come out the other side.
Their usual, more powerful ammunition, 9mm jacketed soft point bullets, would pass through the other side, he said.
He told the court: "The bullet flattens on impact and immediately incapacitates the target.
"This is a more effective bullet in the context of dealing with a suicide bomber as there is more chance of incapacitating a subject with a single shot."
"A direct to brain stem shot is the only way to incapacitate a subject. You need a bullet that dumps all its energy into the subject."
Mr de Menezes, an innocent Brazilian, was followed from his home at Scotia Road, south London, an address linked to July 21 attempted bomber Hussain Osman.
He was followed unchallenged on two buses and a Tube train, before armed police shot him in the head on a train at Stockwell station.
The 27-year-old was blasted seven times in the head after being wrongly identified as a terrorist.
