This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7708195.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Stockwell driver feared terrorism Stockwell driver feared terrorism
(about 2 hours later)
A train driver who fled into a tunnel as Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead believed firearms officers were "fanatics", an inquest has heard.A train driver who fled into a tunnel as Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead believed firearms officers were "fanatics", an inquest has heard.
Quincy Akpesiri Oji said he had run across live tracks at Stockwell Tube station because he thought it was an act of terrorism. Quincy Akpesiri Oji said he thought a terror attack was taking place at Stockwell Tube station.
In a statement read out to the hearing, he said he had heard about 15 shots. The jury also heard Mr de Menezes had been snorting cocaine less than 12 hours before he was shot.
Mr de Menezes was killed in 2005 in south London by police who mistook him for a failed 21 July suicide bomber.Mr de Menezes was killed in 2005 in south London by police who mistook him for a failed 21 July suicide bomber.
The Brazilian was shot seven times in the head at close range after being mistaken for failed bomber Hussain Osman.The Brazilian was shot seven times in the head at close range after being mistaken for failed bomber Hussain Osman.
'Large gun''Large gun'
Mr Oji said his train had arrived at Stockwell Tube station, south London, just before 1000 BST on 22 July 2005.Mr Oji said his train had arrived at Stockwell Tube station, south London, just before 1000 BST on 22 July 2005.
"When I got there the light was red. This was unusual," he said."When I got there the light was red. This was unusual," he said.
There were a couple of male voices shouting 'get off, get down' and, perhaps, 'stop'. Holly Greenland, commuter Whether this [de Menezes' cocaine use] would lead to unusual behaviour which caused the police to act as they did is difficult to say Graham Mould, drugs expert
"I then heard people screaming and I looked at the monitor at the front of the train."I then heard people screaming and I looked at the monitor at the front of the train.
"I heard gunshots. There were about 15 of them. I saw one of the men with a large gun shooting and I thought they were fanatics and they were shooting at people on the carriage.""I heard gunshots. There were about 15 of them. I saw one of the men with a large gun shooting and I thought they were fanatics and they were shooting at people on the carriage."
He said he had been "scared" and remained in the tunnel, with his back against the wall, for about 20 seconds. He said he had run across "live" tracks and remained in the tunnel, with his back against the wall, for about 20 seconds.
"Someone flashed a light into the tunnel. I said 'please do not shoot - I am the driver'," he said."Someone flashed a light into the tunnel. I said 'please do not shoot - I am the driver'," he said.
'Strange' behaviour 'Element of agitation'
The hearing also heard a statement from Holly Greenland, a commuter who had sat next to Mr de Menezes on the train. The inquest at Oval cricket ground, south London, also heard from Graham Mould, a drugs expert at Royal Surrey County Hospital.
She said she had fled the carriage before any shots were fired because one of the surveillance officers had been acting "strange". Speaking about test results which showed trace amounts of cocaine in Mr de Menezes' urine, he said the Brazilian may have been in a period of "dysphoria", generally characterised as an unpleasant or uncomfortable mood, before the shooting.
"There may have been an element of agitation as well," he said.
... with a tissue as fragile as the brain itself then essentially a single shot would probably be sufficient as to incapacitate Dr Franco Tomei
"Whether this would lead to unusual behaviour which caused the police to act as they did, I would suggest, is difficult to say."
Holly Greenland, a commuter who had sat next to Mr de Menezes on the train, told the inquest she had fled the carriage before any shots were fired because one of the surveillance officers had been acting "strange".
"It was the deliberation of his movement that really struck me," she said. "I found it really strange that he did not look round at all.""It was the deliberation of his movement that really struck me," she said. "I found it really strange that he did not look round at all."
She recalled how the officer had "suddenly" rushed out of the carriage, on to the platform.She recalled how the officer had "suddenly" rushed out of the carriage, on to the platform.
"At this point I felt so concerned by the overall situation that I knew I would panic if I did not get off straight away," she said."At this point I felt so concerned by the overall situation that I knew I would panic if I did not get off straight away," she said.
"There were a couple of male voices shouting 'get off, get down' and, perhaps, 'stop'."There were a couple of male voices shouting 'get off, get down' and, perhaps, 'stop'.
"I turned to look for an exit and heard six or seven loud bangs in close succession... I realised they were gunshots.""I turned to look for an exit and heard six or seven loud bangs in close succession... I realised they were gunshots."
On Monday, the jury at the Oval cricket ground, south London, heard from a commuter who had been sitting near Mr de Menezes. The jury was also told a single shot would have been sufficient to incapacitate Mr de Menezes, who was pinned down to his seat.
Anna Dunwoodie said she believed officers were "out of control" and gave off a "sense of panic" before shooting. Dr Franco Tomei said: "As with a tissue as fragile as the brain itself then essentially the amount of energy that is put in from a single shot would probably be sufficient as to incapacitate."
She insisted the police had not issued a warning before killing Mr de Menezes.