Mistake
London police settle with family of man mistaken for terrorist
London's Metropolitan Police Service (Met) and the family of Jean Charles de Menezes on Tuesday announced an end to litigation stemming from de Menezes' death, caused by two Met officers in 2005. No details were given about the compensation awarded to the family:
[I]n view of the physical and mental distress caused to the members of the family by these events and the understandable publicity and press interest, it has been agreed that it is in the best interests of the family that no further statement in relation to this settlement will be made either by them or the Commissioner.
De Menezes was shot by two Met police officers who thought he was involved in the London Transit bombings, in which four suicide bombers killed 52 people. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) found that the Met had violated health and public safety laws during the shooting. CPS concluded that there was not enough evidence to bring charges against the officers, but former Commissioner Sir Ian Blair tendered his resignation following the de Menezes incident.
(Published by Jurist - November 23, 2009)