Thursday, August 02, 2007

Killing With Impunity


Two years ago British police executed Jean Charles de Menezes, a 27-year old Brazilian electrician. He was killed in a subway car by counterterrorism police days after London's subway bombings.

De Menezes was shot, in the head, seven times. They blew his head off.

At the time the London cops explained said the man's bulky clothing and panicked manner led officials to believe he was a suicide bomber.

It was subsequently revealed that de Menezes wasn't wearing bulky clothing nor had he run or resisted arrest. The whole story that he'd basically brought this on himself was simply untrue, a ruse made up to take heat off the cops.

An inquiry into the shooting ruled out any prosecution of the officers involved. The commander of the unit has since been promoted.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Um I believe the investigation did reveal he ran from police when told to stop. And if you run from police, being shot is justified, which is why it was found theofficers did nothign wrong. That's when it's not just after a co-ordinated bombing in the subway you are entering with a bag.

It is unfortunate but it was not killing with impunity. He ran from police during a terror atttack.

The Mound of Sound said...

We all thought he'd been running. Apparently not. If he had been running imagine the William Tell it would take to put seven bullets in his head. That running business was the line that was put out after this guy was executed and it has since been discredited.

Dr.Dawg said...

Nor was he carrying a bag:

http://drdawgsblawg.blogspot.com/2005/08/new-information-re-london-police.html
http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1794292005

But heads may yet roll:

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/03/stories/2007080354821700.htm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2185850.ece

And so much for the formerly left-wing mayor of London:

http://www.gulfnews.com/world/United_Kingdom/10143923.html

Anonymous said...

woah, since when is running cause for being shot at? in a confined public space? seven times? at close range? in the head?

seriously.