Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

[nefertiti]

in De Menezes case.

"All interested persons agree that a verdict of unlawful killing could only be left to you if you could be sure that a specific officer had committed a very serious crime - murder or manslaughter

Sir Michael also warned jurors that they must not attach any criminal or civil fault to any individuals.

But those of you who fear a stitch-up or that the police will get away scot-free should think again.
He did apparently allow them to bring in a verdict of littering, since police not only failed to pick up Mr de Menezes' body but also left spent bullet cases lying around the tube compartment.

[Ginger Yellow]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Jurors were also asked to consider which of a number of factors contributed to the Brazilian's death.

Among those were:

The pressure on police after the 7 July London bombings
A failure by police to ensure that Mr de Menezes was stopped before he reached the Underground
The innocent behaviour of Mr de Menezes increasing suspicion

Indeed. What hell awaits us when the police can't rely on innnocent behaviour as a justification for shooting someone? Next thing you know they won't be allowed to shoot people for carrying bits of furniture while being Scottish.

[blameless]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

In 2007, the Metropolitan Police was fined £175,000 over the shooting of Mr de Menezes, after it was convicted under the Health and Safety Act of "endangering the public".

But the trial concluded that police chief Cressida Dick, who led the operation, bore "no personal culpability", and Sir Michael told the inquest jury that their verdict could not be inconsistent with that decision.

Infuckingcredible. That basically amounts to "because the previous enquiry let the police off lightly, you must do so too."

So, is Sir Michael Wright merely an establishment puppet trying to get the "right" result, or is he actually a decent man who is behaving this way for fear of being shot in the head by the Met if he's uncooperative?

Fucking lying, murdering cunts.

[evilC]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Is there such a thing as an unvestigation, I wonder?

[evilC]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

By the way, I still think it's worth mentioning the eyewitness report that was captured on video by BBC reporters/cameramen immediately after the event, but which was only on the BBC website for a matter of hours before it mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen (or mentioned) again. Basically, a bloke who was on the carriage (and was quite obviously upset and pissed off by what he'd seen) said that one of the police officers in question gave no warning whatsoever to De Menezes at any point but instead, once he was on the ground held his boot on De Menezes' throat while he emptied his clip into the Brazilian's face.

Somewhere the footage of that brief interview still exists. I wouldn't be so sure about the eyewitness, though.

[delicatemoth]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Interesting comparison with the Haringey council and social services bods who have quickly lost their jobs over the Baby P thing...

[Wyatt Earp]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Well, not that quickly, to be fair. But yeah, the Bill remain the past masters at wriggling off the hook; social workers have no chance by comparison. Police heads never roll.

[Gangster Octopus]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Ginger Yellow wrote:

The innocent behaviour of Mr de Menezes increasing suspicion

He really did deserve that cap in his ass...

[G-Man]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Fucking hell, if ever eyewitness testimony pointed to a clear-cut case of state murder, this was it.

[Tactical Genius]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

That's what happens when you give police increased powers, they always end up abusing them.

Then you have the Queen's speech today that will propose increasing their powers.

[Wyatt Earp]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

You should give the Guardian a go, you'd like it.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Next thing you know they won't be allowed to shoot people for carrying bits of furniture while being Scottish.

wasn't he Irish? I thought he was apparently supposed to be some kind of provo.

[Gangster Octopus]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

Colm, I hadn't realised that you'd started working for the Metropolitan Police...

[fr 0wn]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

That's the thing. He wasn't Irish, he was Scottish. Somebody in the bar where he'd been drinking though reckoned he was Irish and carrying a gun ( actually a wrapped up table leg ). Idiot phoned it in to the police, who ran out and gunned the Scotsman down.

[Hofzinser]

Coroner rules out Unlawful Killing verdict...

More info on Wikipedia.