De Menezes

[flip-flop]

Is it right that the policemen who shot De Menezes should escape prosecution?

Personally, I think it is absolutely the right decision.

[sp1814]

Dicko

That's another one of the lies that somehow came up in the aftermath of the shooting.

He wasn't here illegally.

Sorry mate, but it's just untrue.

[tyler06]

how ironic he came from brazil were police murder thousands ever year

[WendyS]

It was a very unfortunate and regrettable death but in the circumstances I think the police did the only possible thing. Mistakes inevitably happen in highly charged situations and whilst those in charge of our safety and security can "theorise" about what will be done in specific circumstances there is rarely time for debate when "the real thing" happens. If any policeman had been prosecuted for this, I envisage that no policeman would even want to carry a gun again, and that would be a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs when we are trying to fight terrorism.
Having said that, I do feel that the level of communication between all concerned in this incident was highly unsatisfactory and I hope that the police and intelligence services will be learning from what happened. I also fear that some of those involved were probably a little economical with the truth.

[stevie21]

WendyS - how do you get to "I think the police did the only possible thing"?
I'm still puzzled by the fact that he was restrained and then shot. Was it really necessary to shoot him?

The only thing that I can think of was that the armed officers were instructed to shoot a suspect in the head rather than torso and also that if they grabbed and restrained him and he tried to resist maybe they thought he was trying to set off whichever bomb they suspected him of having and felt they had to take action. As soon as one officer shoots, one or two others instantly react and fire.

Seems vaguely logical but whether or not is was necessary I think requires more info from those involved.

[pagey3]

great post stevie i like your way of thinking on the matter.

you said about being told to shoot in the head instead of torso - that is correct - armed police were gievn instruction to 'shoot to kill' following the 7/7 bombings and attempted bombings a week later if i remember correctly?

i agree there must have been communication breakdown and an intelligence error has proved fatal, but as for the police who actually shot him, i believe they truly thought they were doing the 'right' thing in the climate at the time of fear and panic.

[Tweed]

I joined this late, but it's interesting to see how many people come to defend the actions of the police, despite the evidence. And some reasons given beggar belief. He was an illegal immigrant? FFS. I'm sure their opinions would be different if it was an Englishman who was shot in Brazil for example, in similar circumstances.

[sp1814]

Yeah, anyone who believes that because someone deserves whatever they get because of their residency status, should...I won't say it. I don't want my post deleted.

[zerocool]

Very true Sp1814.... at the end of the day, he is only human, it is an utter disgrace that some people are using his nationality as an arguement.

On the subject of the police again,... police men are not robots, they do not just follow orders from a radio, there must have been an officer in charge during the pursuit who should have been clever enough to question the information being fed but I guess they were not. Additionally after restraining De Menezes who was not wearing a padded jacket or carrying a rack sack, I tend to wonder whether any of these officers considered were he could be concealing a bomb. Had someone realised this there would have been a different conclusion.

Yes London was on high alert, and cops were told to shoot to kill, and sometimes people have to make split second decisions but there was enough time to make a decision.

[Dicko_82]

1814

Thought his visa had expired??

[noxlumos]

Who the f**k cares, the man is dead. He's no less dead whether his visa was valid or not for God's sakes and to answer your question no it hadn't expired, another one of their myths.

[unruliejulie]

blame the terrorists of 7/7 for this poor mans death.No-one else!

[olddutch]

I've come late to this. These questions to Nox - forgive me if they have already been answered - why wasn't De Menezes stopped for questioning by the Police in open space between his flat and tube. Also what happened to all the CCTV tapes of his passage through the station and of the actual shooting ?

[maxximus]

yes, that would be my first question, strikes me a tad odd that with the city on high alert and the camera system in what would appear to be the location of highest concern was not working, and the fact that, only what i have read here, that three professionally trained observers could have an innocent man down, most definately proclaiming his innocence(you would think) could then put eight bullets into his head.(eight!!) when the military standard as i understand it is the so called 'double tap' for a kill situation. i would assume these tapes have been viewed and shine a not so favourable light. just because you uphold the law does not put you above the law.

[olddutch]

Thank you again Max re the non working CCTV & Canada terrorism input. Any ideas though on the first bit of my question on De Menezes not being stopped in open space instead of the confined tube system ?