THE two police marksmen who shot dead an innocent Brazilian in the belief that he was a suicide bomber will escape criminal charges for murder or manslaughter, sources close to the inquiry believe.

Senior Scotland Yard officers and Whitehall sources are convinced prosecutors will accept the defence of the marksmen who shot Jean Charles de Menezes, a 27-year-old electrician, at Stockwell Tube station on July 22.

The two were said to have been interviewed last week by investigators from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). They are thought to have used the defence that they “honestly believed” he was a terrorist and say they used “reasonable force” to stop him endangering the public.

How easily the words "honestly" and "reasonable" become corrupt!

The fundamental reason that Menezes was shot is never mentioned. He was shot because the rules were changed to give police the right to shoot "suspected" suicide bombers.

The police are boys with toys. Give them a new weapon; it will quickly be used. Give them a new right; it will quickly be exercised. It really is no more complicated than that.

Previous posts
Why did the London police shoot a bomber suspect? (7/22/05)
A law professor comments on the murder by London police (7/26/05)