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The open verdict on the death of Jean Charles de Menezes was perhaps the best the jury could have returned. The coroner had made clear his view that the evidence did not allow for a verdict of unlawful killing. In doing so, the jurors rejected a number of claims made by the police about the operation, which leaves the Met — and especially Cressida Dick, the commander of the operation — with some very uncomfortable questions to answer.
Among the elements of the police accounts that the jury dismissed were the claims that there was a warning given by marksmen before firing, or that Mr de Menezes was moving towards officers before he was killed. This suggests that, quite apart from the many other blunders attending the operation that were detailed in evidence, the police version of events had been less than reliable. As it happens, a warning given before firing would probably have been fruitless; it is the suggestion of police obfuscation that is so damning.
This is a coroner's court verdict, which means that the jury were never considering whether to find the marksmen who fired the shots guilty of murder or manslaughter. That would have been in any event wrong; the blame, such as it was, went further up the line of command. The jury's brief was very narrow: to establish the cause of Mr de Menezes' death.
But this was an open and thorough inquest which revealed a great deal about the conduct of the police operation. We were not only reminded of what we already knew about the scandalous blunders in identification and the missed opportunities for apprehending Mr de Menezes, there were fresh revelations too. As acting Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson reminds us today, the police were under dreadful pressure on the day of the killing; that does not, however, excuse the catalogue of errors that the jury was presented with.
This verdict gives the family some damning ammunition with which to launch a civil action against the police. But more importantly, it leaves the police with a case to answer. None of those in charge has resigned or been sacked as a result of this flawed operation. Why not?
Europe's disunity
LEADERS at the EU summit in Brussels have have agreed plans for a €200 billion package of stimulus measures, to include tax cuts and increases in public spending, which the Prime Minister has described as a sign that the EU was “wholly united”. Yet the way in which the money will be spent will vary according to states' national priorities. It is a fair bet that the German approach will differ markedly from the British: German criticism of the Government's VAT cuts suggest that the EU is by no means united in its direction of travel.
Meanwhile the agreement to cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 would be very welcome, were it not that there are so many exceptions built in that it is hardly the triumph it first appears to be.
But the most obvious result of the summit is a new Irish referendum on the Lisbon treaty: as far as the EU leaders were concerned, the Irish people delivered the wrong verdict last time. Gordon Brown, was let off the hook by the last Irish vote; the prospect of this vexed issue returning to the agenda before the next election is not one he will welcome.
This summit has arrived at consensus on some important issues. But in a Europe facing its toughest times since the 1930s, it is far from clear that the measures agreed will make much difference.
And celebrating ...
NHS heroes. This paper, in association with the King's Fund and NHS London, is celebrating the wonderful individuals and teams within the health service who have been given our NHS champions awards. These are people who have given their all to the patients they care for: heroes of our time.
Reader views (2)
I don't trust the police anymore - neither fair, competent, on the side of the innocent and TOTALLY incapable of being trusted to use their weapons responsibly. Cowboys dressed in blue. The Menezes case, the racism charges, the invasion of the House of Commons - all show a force in need of a clean out and of greater decentralisation of management and more local accountability. "1984" is not over yet.
- Farmer Jones, London, UK, 12/12/2008 15:39
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The UK should look again at the whole idea of Europe as a club we need to be a part of.
If we pull out of Europe Economic Community that will save us £57bn annual subscription and we can put that money towards repairing our businesses and communities. Europe cannot afford to stop importing goods from the UK as we will simply follow suit and most businesses in Europe will collapse.
The UK will once again be free to then trade with the Commonwealth, America and build new relationships with China. We'll come out of this a very strong economy and still be a leader in Europe.
It's time to pull the plug and look after number one.
- Richard, Bristol, 12/12/2008 13:10
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