De Menezes relatives at opening of inquest into killing by police

Three of Mr de Menezes's cousins were in court today as the inquest into the killing opened. The outline of the shooting of the Brazilian electrician in July 2005 was given to a jury by coroner Sir Michael Wright.

Mr de Menezes was killed by two specialist police firearms officers who believed he was a suicide bomber about to detonate an improvised explosive device on the Underground, the inquest heard. Sir Michael told the panel of six women and five men that they had to decide four questions concerned with the death of Mr de Menezes, 27.

He said the first three were straightforward, involving who the deceased was and when and where he died. Sir Michael added: "It is the fourth question that is a much wider one and that is the question of how Mr de Menezes came by his death.

"In other words it will be for you to determine by what means and in what circumstances Mr de Menezes came by his death."

Around 20 members of the victim's family and supporters attended the inquest in the John Major room of the Oval cricket ground.

The three cousinswere Alex Pereira, Alissandro Pereira and Patricia de Silva-Armani, who shared the electrician's flat in Tulse Hill.

A few members of the family wore headphones for instant translation of the proceedings. At the gate to the cricket ground - chosen because of the lack of suitable venues in Southwark - a lone protester stood with a placard demanding Justice 4 Jean.

Around 20 lawyers representing the family and police were crowded into the courtroom. The family was represented by Michael Mansfield, QC, while four separate legal teams represented the police firearms teams, surveillance officers, the Met commissioner and other senior officers.

Sir Michael, a former High Court judge, described how Mr de Menezes died at 10.06am in a stationary train carriage at Stockwell station. He told the jury: "He died because he was shot by two specialist firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police. According to them they shot him because they believed he was a suicide bomber capable of detonating and intending to detonate an improvised explosive device within the Underground system." The coroner emphasised that Mr de Menezes was in "no way associated with bombs, explosives or any form of terrorism".

He also made it plain the inquest would be focused on how Mr de Menezes died and not what happened afterwards. The inquest is expected to last 12 weeks.