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De Menezes family seek compensation
Simon Kirby16 Feb 2009
The family of Jean Charles de Menezes today said they would launch a compensation claim against the Metropolitan Police for shooting dead the Brazilian electrician.
Their decision comes after the CPS revealed it would not bring charges against the police marksmen who shot Mr de Menezes at a Tube station, despite expressing doubts over the police version of events.
An inquest jury returned an open verdict in December after hearing three months of evidence. Mr de Menezes was shot dead by two marksmen who wrongly thought he was a terrorist after boarding a train at Stockwell on 22 July 2005.
The de Menezes family will abandon their four-year battle for justice, after backing down on an earlier threat to challenge the coroner's decision not to allow the jury to consider a verdict of unlawful killing.
A Justice 4 Jean Campaign spokeswoman said: "What the family want is justice, that's what the family has always been striving for.
"A compensation claim is the next natural step. There has been a breach of their human rights. They are entitled to damages."
The family would not say how much compensation they would seek.
They will switch their campaign to focus on lobbying Parliament to tighten the laws surrounding police accountability.
Reader views (19)
What happen to Jean Charles De Menezes could happen to us all. The Met Police should pay compensation to the family.
- Stan White, leeds, 17/02/2009 07:45
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Are any of you seriously saying that if a much loved (and clearly he was) member of your family was killed by the police and it was found that no-one was at fault, even though he was blameless, that you wouldn't honestly do exactly the same thing ???? Of course you would. I certainly would. I would want some form of justice for my family member and this seems to be the only avenue left for the family. The fact he is Brazilian has nothing to do with it. He was here legally and he was killed through no fault of his own.
- Louise, Essex, 16/02/2009 17:19
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Kay, Jean Charles de Menezes was not killed in his own country, he was killed here, where we hold our authorities to a much higher standard.
Look at it another way, if a relative of yours was killed by having several bullets pumped into their head, by mistake, by the Brazillian police what would you want to happen?
- Escobar A-Lop-Lop, Camden County, 16/02/2009 16:59
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S-M Hearmon, as I should have said, if successful they will get a judgement, the compensation will follow as a result.
1) We don't know how much they will get,
2) However much, they may decide to give it all away,
3) If compensation was really all that they were interested in, then they could have gone direct to that route on the 23rd July 2005, and by-passed all the investigations, inquests, etc.
Some people will just prefer to believe they are nothing but moneygrabbers.
- Escobar A-Lop-Lop, Camden County, 16/02/2009 16:18
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They've been waiting to do this - from the very first they wanted to claim for compensation because THEY CAN.
If this man had been killed in the same manner in his own country, there would be no chance of so much time and money spent on hearings and going over who was to blame. This family would have got 'sorry', and that's an end to ti!
- Kay, London, 16/02/2009 16:01
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I think compensation is what the family deserve.The police made a grave error and the family should be awarded hugh sums of money.
- Natalie, natal, 16/02/2009 15:50
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I should add, that a successful (from the de M family) civil claim will result in finding against the defendant and monetary compensation.
- Escobar A-Lop-Lop, Camden County, 16/02/2009 15:05
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But what do they need the compensation for? As Steve said, it won't bring him back so just why do they want it?
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 16/02/2009 14:58
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Steve,
Unfortunately once all other legal avenues have been exhausted (regardless of how you think they all played out), a civil claim reuslting in monetary compensation is pretty much the last resort.
You can hardly accuse the family being opportunists, bearing in mind the casework that has gone on, and that they could have gone route one to compensation three and a half years ago, if they were so inclined.
- Escobar A-Lop-Lop, Camden County, 16/02/2009 14:05
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Why does it all come down to money? Will money bring him back? Of course not. Seeking money removes the moral high ground and merely makes the family look like opportunists seeking to profit from this unfortunate disaster.
- Steve, London, 16/02/2009 13:37
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I do think any compensation should be in line with compensation paid out to July 7th victims. It also should be paid out at the same time.
- Simon, London, 16/02/2009 13:30
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To be clear, Jean Charles de Menezes was in the UK LEGALLY. His UK entry visa had expired at the time he was killed, but he had re-entered with a visa issued by the Republic of Ireland, which gave him right of entry to and employment within the UK for a period of time.
Maybe you all missed that in the news reports.
- Md, London, 16/02/2009 12:33
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Wow! so many much right wing hostility here.
An INNOCENT man was shot dead, it is irrelevent whether he had a right to be here or not.
- Decency, London, UK, 16/02/2009 12:23
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Anyone who is here illegally is not entitled to anything at all. Don't like that then leave.
- Lou, London, 16/02/2009 12:18
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Tom is right if he played by the rules he would not have been here so no pay out
- Terry Chambers, London, 16/02/2009 11:56
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This makes my blood boil! Not only was he not entitled to be living and working here at all (which in my eyes means they are not entitled to a penny) but they have already wasted a scandalous fortune of tax payers' money (not to mention Police time) banging on about this. It must stop NOW!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 16/02/2009 11:41
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Will they then finally go back to Brazil........It will also be interesting to seem the sum they are awarded compared to the victims of the July 7th bombings................
- Jonny, London, 16/02/2009 11:36
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Surely they are not entitled to compensation as he was working in the country illegally? If he had not been here it would not have happened.
- Tom, Watford (UK), 16/02/2009 11:10
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It's only ever been about getting money out of us Tax payers. It seems crime does prosper.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 16/02/2009 10:58
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