Menezes family push for 'unlawful killing' verdict

Lawyers representing the family of Jean Charles de Menezes are to press for a verdict of unlawful death at his inquest and ultimately plan to sue the Metropolitan police.

Today the relatives of Mr de Menezes, their lawyers Birnberg Peirce & Partners and the pressure group Justice4Jean, said in a joint statement that the family were looking forward to "effectively participating in the inquest that must now follow".

His family hope to find out more when the Independent Police Complaints Commission's investigation into the shooting, Stockwell 2, is published in the next few days. They are awaiting the hearing at which the officers who shot Mr de Menezes are expected to give evidence for the first time.

The statement said: "While the evidence heard at the trial confirms serious failings... the outcome leaves many questions unanswered. In particular, no evidence was heard from the officers responsible for shooting Jean Charles, or from any of the civilian passengers who witnessed the shooting.

"This serious omission enabled the defence to suggest that there was something about Jean Charles's behaviour on the Tube that led him to be shot. The family know that evidence exists to the contrary."

Relatives believe if an inquest returns a verdict of unlawful killing, the Crown Prosecution Service would have to review its decision not to charge individual officers with manslaughter.

Justice4Jean said: "We remain of the view that individuals should be held accountable and that there is evidence for manslaughter charges to be brought."