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How is it that illegal immigrants seem to have the same right's as British Citizens, compensation should not have been paid out of taxpayers’ money to his family. How many more of his family are here illegally? Now they have been paid when will they all be going home if ever, who is paying for their stay? During a time of high tension he was shot which is unfortunate but he was a criminal with a forged stamp in his passport. No memorial should be put up to honour a criminal.

- Maxell Rodgers, UK London, 24/11/2009 09:39
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There should not be a memorial here and any compensation should be equivalent to that which his family would have received if he had been shot by police in Brazil.
Yet I doubt that will be the case, given the secrecy that surrounds the award.

- V. Martin, Oxford U.K, 23/11/2009 20:04
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The family are right to do this and I reckon they could raise money through public subscription to pay for this. There is a strong feeling of outrage that an innocent man should die in these circumstances. I can't believe that Janet's and Frank's are representative of public opinion.

- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs, 23/11/2009 19:04
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He shouldn't have even been in this country, so why a memorial plaque?

What's so special about him, he is not the only person killed in the last 4 years.

His family should try looking at the amount of people killed by the police in their own country, and stop being holier than though about the whole thing.

- P Staker, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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There are more people shot by police in Brazil than in any other country of the world. The family should grieve in private and peace and stop trying to milk this situation. The whole thing lacks dignity and respect.

- Jilly, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Wrong place, wrong time and should not of been here in the first place. No memorial.

- J Taylor, Dumfries, Scotland, 23/11/2009 19:04
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It was terrible what happened to this chap, but we must remember this came hard upon the 7 July 2005 bombing. Charles Menesez's death was an accident, the London bombings wasn't. The police, rightly or wrongly, made a serious error, and I hope fallout from ensures it won't happen again. I don't agree there should be a memorial though, as it would be an affront to the families of the other civilians that have been unlawfully killed by the police whose deaths were never subjected to he same degree of publicity as this one. Blair Peach springs to mind.

Perhaps his family's efforts would be better directed at highlighting the Brazilian death squads who routinely wipe out the street kids over there, instead of knocking the British police, who have a difficult and thankless task as it is.

- Sonia M., St Albans, Herts, 23/11/2009 19:04
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He shouldn't have been here anyway that's why he ran. His family are so predictable trying to milk the situation for everything they can get. A memorial for someone who hasn't contributed anything to anyone and who was here illegally. Ridiculous. They are just trying to prolong their stay here at no doubt our expense.

- Candice, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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if you shoot all the British illegals living elsewhere, the child abusers, the alcoholics, drug addicts, the 'respectable' exploiters of ordinary people and so on, you will probably have to build another cargo-handling terminal to cope with the bodybags.

- Anil, glos, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Some of the comments posted are unbelievably harsh. There are lessons to be learnt in all areas. Unfortunately, the Police were under intense pressure and serious errors were made. However instead of looking for scapegoats, it'd be far more valuable to learn the lessons for the future! As for the tragic death of Charles, the fact he was in UK illegally doesn't mean he deserved to die! There are many British people who also over stay their visas! It's a sad fact that quite simply, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I do agree with the views of some, regarding the Brazilian police who murder civilians everyday! It is understandable that his family want to persue justice for their son, however they need to do so with quiet dignity and perhaps campaign for change within the Brazilian police force.
Although the death was tragic, I don't feel a memorial in the UK would be appropriate.

- Pom In Oz, Oz, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Those of you have commented here about Jean Charles' immigration status should think more about the logic of your comments. The police released a whole host of lies about Jean Charles to discredit him after he was shot, which unfortunately many of you here have been happy to continue to believe even though they have since been shown to be all false. However, the fact is that his personal situation has no bearing on why or how he was shot. He could have been a Scottish priest, a British soldier, a german tourist or anyone else. The simple fact is he came out of the communal entrance of a large block of flats they were watching and happened to look a little like the man that the police were looking for - that was enough for them to shoot him. It is this fact only that we should examine and ask ourselves whether this is enough reason to shoot someone. You can cite all the mitigating circumstances in the world but that is the key point. The police and the public must not forget the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. Nobody has been held to account in any way for his death and all police apologists must feel at least a twinge of shame at that. This memorial is essential to ensure that we never forget and hopefully that this tragedy doesn't happen again to another family (irrespective of their nationality!)

- Mike, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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If he wanted to be in England he should have made his stay legal. Our police have a hard enough job at keeping our streets and tourist places safe as it is and don't just go around shooting anyone in the streets without good cause.Maybe he was innocent of being a terrorist but he was guilty of being associated with known terrorists to the police and therefore was not an innocent bystander. I think that Jeremy Lawrence's comment about him being an 'over stayer' is quite alarming in itself, maybe he finds it acceptable for all illegal immigrants to be in this country without a visa. Whilst this is a tragic accident for the family, I do not think that a memorial is appropriate. Memorials should be for hero's and people who give their life for their country, Including those who gave their lives in terrorist attacks as they are the 'Innocent bystanders'. This memorial should be put in his own town in his own country for people who knew him to see.

- Diane, Hull, 23/11/2009 19:04
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I am actually fairly shocked at the number of people commenting here, that being an over stayer on his immigration status somehow justifies him being shot dead. He was trying to better his life, that is all. Gavin - your comment - that had he not been an illegal the police would not have mistaken him, is ridiculous at best. He was mistaken because he looked similar to a known terrorist and Candice - your comment - that he ran after being challenged only shows your lack of knowledge. Even the Police admitted he never ran from them. When challenged he simply stood up, no doubt assuming that he had been caught as an illegal immigrant. He was then shot dead at point blank range. There is a lot of anti-immigration feeling in the comment trail but that does not excuse poor police operational management. Nobody, no matter what their immigration status or nationality deserves to have their life ended in such a manner.

- Jeremy Lawrence, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Fairly predictable xenophobic comments for the small minded here...

- Aidan Reid, london, uk, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Jane and Frank,

To put the record straight he entered the UK legally via Eire and was due to fly the day after he was shot. However during the interim period his passport gained a fake "Indefinate Leave to Remain" stamp and as such he negated his right to be here.

If people want a permanent memorial to him put it outside his house in Brazil where he should have been!

- Mark, South-East London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Frank and Janet, he may have been here Illegally but that doesn't make his murder justifiable.
there are thousands if not millions fraudulently claiming benefits, so you think if they were shot on their way to claim their benefits at the post office, that would be their own fault?

- Amir, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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What! Like the bloke who was shot carrying a chair leg, and the other one naked in bed. Ha! Ha! Ha!

- Baz Bazzan, London UK., 23/11/2009 19:04
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He was here illegally – yes. He was shot illegally – granted. Create a permanent memorial – ridiculous.

- John, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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How many people know the true facts about this unfortunate incident? Certainly most of the commentors know nothing apart from the original lies spewed by Blair in the immediate aftermath. The CCTV clearly shows that he did not run. The other passengers in the carriage have confirmed that he was sitting peacefully reading his newspaper when shot. The police stated he was illegally in UK soon after the incident but the true facts are not well known. A memorial should be erected in his memory if only to remember that policitians must not influence the actions of the police and the police have a duty to protect the innocent. If a SO19 officer has the slightest doubt about his orders he should not fire his gun. Everyone involved has suffered and this should never be repeated. It is important to remember history to avoid repeating mistakes.

- Dannyp, Egham, 23/11/2009 19:04
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He should not have been here, End of.

And why are his family still allowed to stay here?

- Mrs, London UK, 23/11/2009 19:04
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If he had been a law abiding resident of the UK, the police would have been able to identify him leaving his house. As he wasnt, they couldnt, and mistook him for a terrorist. I think he should share some of the blame. Also please remember that the day before he was shot a terrorist attack took place, and at the time several suspects were being chased. I for one completely support the use of lethal force.

- Gavin, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Whilst I feel sorry for his family, I don't think this is appropriate.

- Smb, London, UK, 23/11/2009 19:04
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He was here illegally and mistaken for a terrorist, end of story & a tragic accident. However one can't help that think; if he had of left when he visa expired, he never would have been there that day.

- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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They can have it in Brazil if they wish . . . the guy was here unlawfully, and as such he was the author of his own doom.
No memorial.

- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI, 23/11/2009 19:04
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You’re absolutely right Amir. Hey Frank and Janet I don’t like illegal immigration either! But, I know a lot of people from the UK who have been abroad and carried on working despite their visa’s running out… it works both ways… What happened that day to Jean Charles de Menezes was truly awful. The system in this country worked to protect the perpetrators of this murder when it went to court. The least we can do is put up this memorial.

- Paul, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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Shouldn't that be "Never Forget the Illegal Immigrants"?

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 23/11/2009 19:04
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When will they lay this to rest? He shouldn't have been here in the first place. His work permit had expired some time before he was shot. If he had been a law abiding person, not an illegal immmigrant, he would have been safe at home in Brazil.

- Janetg, bromley, kent, 23/11/2009 19:04
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- Candice, London

"He shouldn't have been here anyway that's why he ran"

He did not run. He walked into the tube station, picked up a paper, walked through the barriers and then walked down the escalator and boarded the train. A plain clothed police officer then sat next to him. When the armed response team arrived the officer pointed out Jean Charles de Menezes as the suspect and then he was shot seven times.

The police lied at the time saying he had run and vaulted over the barriers. That might of lead to your confusion over this matter Candice.

Also, people here illegally still have human rights.

- Paul, London, 23/11/2009 19:04
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