The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

Link: Police deny De Menezes safety charge | Top News | Reuters.co.uk.

The Metropolitan Police is unwise to defend the stupid “health & safety” charges in relation to the death of Jean-Charles de Menezes. Better to kill the story quickly and accept a fine and a slap on the wrist than to drag it out for weeks or months.

It is brave of the Met’s lawyers to say that

These were not criminal acts by our officers and they have the support of the MPS. There are compelling evidential grounds to defend this case.

The CPS may have “decided” not to prosecute, but on the published facts the Met officers who killed de Menezes have a case to answer. Had you or I killed him in the mistaken belief that he was a terrorist, I am sure the police and CPS would tell us that it was for a jury to decide if we were guilty or not.

Jean-Charles was unarmed and lightly clad. Every allegation of “suspicious” behaviour has subsequently been retracted. The CCTV tapes were removed by the police and “lost”. There was no way in the reported circumstances that the officer firing the lethal shots could reasonably have perceived a threat. If the circumstances were better for the police than has been reported, I am sure they would have said so by now.

The officers concerned, their operational commander that day and Sir Iain Blair should all have been charged with murder. I do not know what a jury would have decided, but I am suspicious that the Government seems determined that we should not know.

I hope the family will bring a private prosecution. I am happy to pledge £500 towards their costs if they do.