Menezes' mother: Sir Ian must go

BBC
Sep. 28, 2005

The parents of Jean Charles de Menezes have retraced the final journey taken by their son who was mistakenly shot dead by anti-terrorism police.

Matuzinhos Otone Da Silva and Maria Otone de Menezes visited the 27-year-old's flat in Tulse Hill, south London, before going to Stockwell Tube.

Mrs Menezes said Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair "must resign".

Her son, an electrician, was shot dead at Stockwell tube station the day after the failed 21 July bombings in London.

At a press conference Mr Menezes' brother, Giovanni Da Silva, said he felt his family had been misled about whether CCTV cameras had been working when his brother was killed, prompting their fears of a cover-up.

And his mother said her son had been treated like a "mad dog", adding that "no human being should be treated in that way".

Members of the family repeatedly called for "justice" to be done by putting the police officers responsible for the shooting on trial.

'Demand explanations'

The family were confronted by a large crowd gathered outside Stockwell Tube station to witness their arrival.

Reporters and cameramen jostled to watch the family, while uniformed Metropolitan Police officers stood guard.

The station was closed to commuters while the visit took place.

After inspecting the shrine of flowers and messages by the station entrance, a visibly distressed Mrs Menezes said: "Look what they've done to my son."

The family were then led inside the station - which was closed for the visit - to see the spot on the platform where Mr Menezes was shot as he attempted to board a train.

When they emerged, a tearful Mrs Menezes was comforted by relatives, while other family members embraced.

They then posed for photographers before being driven away.

Mr Menezes' parents and five other relatives are on a two-week visit to the UK, paid for by Scotland Yard.

Harriet Wistrich, the family's solicitor, said the family had declined an offer to meet Met police chief Sir Ian Blair during their trip, adding: "It is not appropriate for them to meet him as he is a witness in their case".

However, she said they were still deciding whether to meet any other officers.

Mr Menezes' brother, who is on the trip with his wife and three children, earlier said they did hope to meet senior police.

"We've come here to see what's going on. It's important for us to demand explanations," he said.

The family, who arrived in the UK from Brazil on Tuesday, have expressed a desire to see officers jailed over the shooting, which took place the day after the 21 July failed London bombings.

The Met chief has admitted he did consider quitting in the aftermath of the shooting.

On Thursday they will visit the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the circumstances that led up to Mr Menezes being shot seven times in the head.

The IPCC has called for an end to speculation about the case following claims in Tuesday's Evening Standard newspaper that police bosses knew within hours an innocent man had been shot.

"It is important that we have a fair and thorough process leading to the truth and so the leaks and speculation must end," IPCC chairman Nick Hardwick said.

A leak in August of IPCC investigation documents prompted claims of a police cover-up.

The documents contradicted early police claims that Mr Menezes' "clothing and demeanour" had added to suspicions that he was a suspect being linked to the 21 July attacks.

Three senior Brazilian officials visited London last month on a fact-finding mission about the shooting, and concluded there had been no cover-up.

A 43-year-old woman was last week arrested and later bailed over the leak.