Jean Menezes Death: Someone must be held responsible

I welcome the Old Bailey verdict that found the Metropolitan Police force guilty of an erroneous operation which led to the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, an innocent Brazilian citizen who was mistaken for an extremist by the incompetent police force.

I also deplore the verdict for many reasons. First, the Met was convicted under the health and safety legislation which is not only weird but also insane. Secondly, the force as a whole was found guilty, not individuals, not the police officers who fired the fatal shots. Finally the ‘guilty verdict’ is just as bad as a ‘not guilty verdict’ as no one is taking responsibility or brought to justice for his death.

We know from the video footages shown on television that Jean was obviously far from being seen as a ‘threat’ . He was in a crowded bus and went through crowded streets. If he was a real extremist, he could have detonated in either place – no need to go to the tube. The police followed Jean, watching him catch the crowed bus and walk down the crowed streets. And then they caught up with him in a mad rush on an almost empty tube train.

Two police officers fired a total of 8 shots, 7 in the head, at helpless Jean. There was absolutely no need to fire that many shots even in the most extreme situation because the bullets used in this incident were not normal but especial ones. This sort of bullet enters the body and then explodes inside causing immediate death.

It was a terrorising act by the police.

I believe the team involved in this operation and every single police officer of that team should have been convicted of manslaughter under diminished responsibility and punished appropriately.

The police are not above the law and no one should be. Justice must be upheld.