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View Full Version : British TV News Report Disputes Police on Shooting of Brazilian


Canucklehead
8-18-05, 4:19 PM
LONDON, Aug. 16 -- A Brazilian man mistakenly shot by British police last month did not vault over a subway turnstile or run away and was being restrained by one officer when another shot him eight times, ITV News reported Tuesday, citing leaked police documents, witness statements and photographs.

Further, the television channel reported, Jean Charles de Menezes was not wearing a padded jacket that police have said led them to believe he could be concealing a bomb. A photograph of Menezes broadcast by ITV News on Tuesday night showed him lying in a pool of blood, wearing jeans and what appeared to be a shirt or jacket. According to a witness statement, he had been wearing a light denim jacket.


Scotland Yard said Tuesday that it would not be proper to comment on the report until a full account on the killing had been prepared.

The ITV report said police surveillance indicated Mendez had taken a bus from his apartment to the Stockwell subway station, where he calmly picked up a newspaper and walked through the turnstiles.

Differing with versions provided by police, ITV News said Menezes only ran as a train approached, as did others around him. Once on the train, according to what the channel said was a leaked police statement aired Tuesday night, a police officer pinned Menezes down when another officer shot him. A coroner's report said he was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder.

Scotland Yard officials have said repeatedly that the incident occurred in the highly charged atmosphere one day after the failed July 21 bombings, and two weeks after four bombs involving a bus and three subway lines killed 56 people, including the presumed bombers, and injured 700.

Family members have said Menezes, 27, was an innocent bystander who happened to live on a block where police were monitoring the apartment of a suspected bomber.

Canadian26
8-18-05, 4:29 PM
Thats so wrong I dont even have the words to express it. Its like the police stooped to the level of terriost who kill innocents for no particular reason. There is no excuse for something like that to happen, I hope those responsible are brought to justice quickly.

charlio lemieux
8-18-05, 7:21 PM
what a totally wrong story the media was allowed to run with. They didn't even get his clothes right.

what were the cops thinking? I can understand the cops being excited after the previous day, but how many times do you need to shoot a guy in the head.

Why wasn't he questioned long before he got to the station. There's going to be someone's bacon fried for this one.

a4l
8-18-05, 11:40 PM
That is so unlike the British police. I can't believe they screwed up so badly.

go_leafs_go02
8-19-05, 1:16 AM
A major screwup that I don't know how it would happen. Seriously you'd think the Police would know better.

They are doing their job fighting terrorism, but they must be more cautious when they detain or shoot someone down.

Hopefully those involved have learned their lesson.