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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Menezes 'could have been stopped' | Menezes 'could have been stopped' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A firearms officer has said he could have stopped Jean Charles de Menezes entering Stockwell Tube station, where the Brazilian was shot dead. | A firearms officer has said he could have stopped Jean Charles de Menezes entering Stockwell Tube station, where the Brazilian was shot dead. |
| The officer, identified by the code name C12, told an inquest a series of mistakes led to Mr de Menezes' death. | The officer, identified by the code name C12, told an inquest a series of mistakes led to Mr de Menezes' death. |
| He admitted not reporting that he was close to Mr de Menezes - but said he "had a lot going on" and "things happened so quickly" that day. | He admitted not reporting that he was close to Mr de Menezes - but said he "had a lot going on" and "things happened so quickly" that day. |
| Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot on 22 July 2005, mistaken for a suicide bomber. | Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot on 22 July 2005, mistaken for a suicide bomber. |
| Police searching for failed bomber Hussain Osman had tracked Mr de Menezes from his home in Tulse Hill, south London, to the station. | Police searching for failed bomber Hussain Osman had tracked Mr de Menezes from his home in Tulse Hill, south London, to the station. |
| Radio traffic | Radio traffic |
| The officer told the inquest he was waiting outside the station when Mr de Menezes arrived. | The officer told the inquest he was waiting outside the station when Mr de Menezes arrived. |
| Michael Mansfield QC, for the Menezes family, asked him whether he had heard incorrect radio reports that no armed officers were nearby to stop the suspect. | Michael Mansfield QC, for the Menezes family, asked him whether he had heard incorrect radio reports that no armed officers were nearby to stop the suspect. |
| C12 replied: "No sir." | C12 replied: "No sir." |
| Mr Mansfield continued: "Because the truth was you were there and you could have done it, couldn't you?" I thought I was going to die and I took action to stop that Firearms officer C12 | Mr Mansfield continued: "Because the truth was you were there and you could have done it, couldn't you?" I thought I was going to die and I took action to stop that Firearms officer C12 |
| The officer said: "Yes sir." | The officer said: "Yes sir." |
| Mr Mansfield asked C12 what had gone wrong with the police operation on the day. | Mr Mansfield asked C12 what had gone wrong with the police operation on the day. |
| The officer replied: "From the information I had received through the briefings, through the positive identification given to me by the surveillance officers, by Mr de Menezes's actions, both when we were getting on to the Tube [and] when I challenged him - everything I have thought sadly proved to be wrong." | The officer replied: "From the information I had received through the briefings, through the positive identification given to me by the surveillance officers, by Mr de Menezes's actions, both when we were getting on to the Tube [and] when I challenged him - everything I have thought sadly proved to be wrong." |
| C12 admitted the onus was on him to tell his commanders that he could stop Mr de Menezes. | C12 admitted the onus was on him to tell his commanders that he could stop Mr de Menezes. |
| CCTV footage of officers at Stockwell tube station | |
| "The only explanation I am offering to you is that things happened so quickly as we came closer," he said. | "The only explanation I am offering to you is that things happened so quickly as we came closer," he said. |
| "Why I did not tell them where I was I just cannot tell you. I was trying to listen to the radio, I had a lot going on, and if that is an error, then you know, I apologise for it." | "Why I did not tell them where I was I just cannot tell you. I was trying to listen to the radio, I had a lot going on, and if that is an error, then you know, I apologise for it." |
| 'Life extinct' | 'Life extinct' |
| Mr Mansfield asked C12 why he shot the Brazilian more than once. | Mr Mansfield asked C12 why he shot the Brazilian more than once. |
| "I had to make sure life was extinct," he said. "I had to incapacitate instantly. I just could not take any chances. | "I had to make sure life was extinct," he said. "I had to incapacitate instantly. I just could not take any chances. |
| "I do not want to take anyone else's life. If there was an alternative to do anything else that day, believe me I would have taken it." | "I do not want to take anyone else's life. If there was an alternative to do anything else that day, believe me I would have taken it." |
| C12 admitted fear did play a part in his behaviour, but said he was "in control" of himself. I have tried to be brutally honest about everything C12 | C12 admitted fear did play a part in his behaviour, but said he was "in control" of himself. I have tried to be brutally honest about everything C12 |
| "Fear was certainly there... as regard to controlling my actions, it is possible it had some impact, yes. I cannot deny that. | "Fear was certainly there... as regard to controlling my actions, it is possible it had some impact, yes. I cannot deny that. |
| "I thought I was going to die and I took action to stop that." | "I thought I was going to die and I took action to stop that." |
| 'Critical shot' | 'Critical shot' |
| The officer was also accused of "embellishing" and "grossly exaggerating" his statement to explain why he thought Mr de Menezes was a terrorist - something he denied. | The officer was also accused of "embellishing" and "grossly exaggerating" his statement to explain why he thought Mr de Menezes was a terrorist - something he denied. |
| "I have tried to be brutally honest about everything. I have got to justify what I have done. Justifying what I have done doesn't mean that I am going to break the law," he said. | "I have tried to be brutally honest about everything. I have got to justify what I have done. Justifying what I have done doesn't mean that I am going to break the law," he said. |
| Mr Mansfield continued: "What I suggest is in your mind that once you knew he was identified, that was it - you are down the escalator, on the carriage and he is dead." | Mr Mansfield continued: "What I suggest is in your mind that once you knew he was identified, that was it - you are down the escalator, on the carriage and he is dead." |
| C12 replied: "That could not be further from the truth. I did not even know where he was at that stage, let alone delivering a critical shot. I just did not have that in mind." | C12 replied: "That could not be further from the truth. I did not even know where he was at that stage, let alone delivering a critical shot. I just did not have that in mind." |
| He said did call out a warning to Mr de Menezes - "armed police" - before opening fire, but Mr Mansfield insisted that other witnesses had heard no such shout. | He said did call out a warning to Mr de Menezes - "armed police" - before opening fire, but Mr Mansfield insisted that other witnesses had heard no such shout. |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |