BBC News
PA MediaThe family of mistaken terror suspect Jean Charles de Menezes have said it is a “travesty” no police officer has been held accountable for his death 20 years after he was shot.
Dozens of people joined his relatives for a vigil outside Stockwell Tube station in south London, where the 27-year-old was killed by police the day after failed bombing attempts on the London transport network.
It came two weeks after the 7/7 terror attacks, which killed 52 people in central London in 2005.
No officers were prosecuted for the killing of Mr de Menezes but the Met was fined for breaching health and safety laws. In April, the force reiterated its apology to the family.
At the memorial outside the station, a minute’s silence was held, a prayer was read in both Portuguese and English, and traditional South American music was played in honour of the Brazilian.
Family members and supporters wore black T-shirts which read: “20 years: Justice denied. Justice4Jean.”
Relatives say the anniversary marks a renewed call for truth and accountability for those responsible for his death.
Patricia da Silva Armani, Mr de Menezes’ cousin, said: “He was a completely innocent man. And yet, he was shot in cold blood.
“To make things worse, lies were spread to justify the unjustifiable.
de Menezes family“For our family, the grief of that loss and the injustice surrounding it are still with us, every single day.
“Nothing can erase the pain of knowing that the life of a hard-working, kind, and honest young man was taken from us out of prejudice and incompetence.
“To this day, no police officer has been held accountable for Jean’s death. That is a travesty.”
Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head the day after police mistakenly identified him as one of the suspects for the failed bombings.
Would-be suicide bombers had targeted the transport network on 21 July, but their devices failed to explode.
Ms da Silva Armani added that it was “unacceptable that agents of the state can act with impunity”.
“Jean’s memory demands more than words – it demands truth, accountability, and real change. We will not forget. We will not be silent.”
Dame Cressida Dick, who became Metropolitan Police commissioner in 2017, led the operation in which Mr de Menezes died.
Yasmin Khan, a lawyer working on behalf of campaigners, said: “Twenty years ago today, Jean Charles de Menezes stepped on to a train here at Stockwell station and never came home.
“We remember him today, because the system that killed him never faced justice, and not a single police officer was ever held accountable.”
In April, Mr de Menezes’ family told the BBC they would continue to fight for him and “show the world the truth”.
Speaking before a Disney+ four-part UK TV drama was released, his mum Maria de Menezes said she wanted the real story portrayed after there were incorrect initial reports that he jumped the barriers and hit police.
He was mistaken for one of the suspects because they were linked to the same block of flats.
Last November, the anonymous marksman told Channel 4 he was certain “we were going to die” if he did not act.
Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes: A timeline
- 22 July 2005 Jean Charles de Menezes shot dead by police at Stockwell Tube station
- 17 July 2006 CPS says no officers will be prosecuted, but Met Police will be tried for breaching health and safety laws
- 1 November 2007 Met Police found guilty of breaching health and safety laws and fined
- 22 October 2008 Inquest under way – coroner rules out unlawful killing verdict a month later
- 12 December 2008 Inquest jury returns open verdict
- 16 November 2009 Met Police settles damages claim with family
- 10 June 2015 De Menezes family take legal challenge to European Court of Human Rights
- 30 March 2016 Family lose challenge over decision not to charge any police officer over the shooting
