Menezes: Unlawful killing ruled out

7:08pm Tuesday 2nd December 2008

The coroner at the inquest of Jean Charles de Menezes has ruled out a verdict of unlawful killing.

Former High Court judge, Sir Michael Wright, began summing up seven weeks of evidence by telling jurors they will only be allowed to return a verdict of lawful killing or an open verdict.

Having considered all the evidence, a verdict of unlawful killing was "not justified", he said.

The coroner told jurors to cast aside "any emotion" over the innocent Brazilian's shooting.

He also warned the 11 jurors they must not attach any criminal or civil fault to individuals.

He told them verdicts cannot be inconsistent with the outcome of the Metropolitan Police's health and safety trial, which spared Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick of personal blame.

The coroner began bringing together the final account of how the innocent Brazilian met his death on a south London Tube train.

It is the last stage before the 11-person jury, which has sat since September 22, is sent out to consider its verdicts.

Jurors heard from 100 witnesses, including the two men who shot dead the innocent Brazilian at point-blank range on a carriage at Stockwell station on July 22, 2005.

For the first time, the public was given a full account of the incident from key witnesses on board the Underground carriage where the shooting took place. Key controversies involving surveillance outside his Tulse Hill home, incidents in the control room at New Scotland Yard, and Mr de Menezes' journey towards Stockwell were also examined at length.