De Menezes inquest adjourned for six months

The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes was put off for six months today as confusion remained over the existence…

The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes was put off for six months today as confusion remained over the existence of CCTV footage of his last moments.

John Cummins, senior investigating officer with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), told a brief preliminary inquest hearing today that he had received a "comprehensive handover package" from the Metropolitan Police regarding the shooting of Mr de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station on July 22nd.

But he declined to clarify whether that package included CCTV film taken from the numerous cameras that Mr de Menezes would have passed on the station platform and inside the train carriage where he died.

A police report claimed there was no CCTV footage from the platform or train ,but that suggestion has been strongly challenged by workers at the station who say most, if not all, of the cameras were working.

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Speaking after today's hearing, Harriet Wistrich, a solicitor representing the de Menezes family, said it would be "bizarre" if none of the CCTV cameras on the platform were working at the time of the shooting.

She also said there were "concerns" over the handing over of the investigation by the Metropolitan Police to the IPCC, which did not happen until five days after the incident.

Richard Latham QC, for the IPCC, told today's inquest hearing at Inner South District Coroner's Court that its report into the shooting would be completed by Christmas. But it will not be published until all proceedings in the case - including any criminal or disciplinary measures against the police officers involved - are complete.

Coroner John Sampson adjourned the inquest until February 23rd next year. No members of the de Menezes family were present.

Speaking outside court, Ms Wistrich called for a public inquiry to resolve the continuing confusion surrounding the death of the 27-year-old Brazilian electrician.

But relatives of some of the victims in the July 7th attacks backed the Metropolitan Police. Dania Gorodi, whose sister died in the attacks, said: "We are hampering the police investigation by crucifying the police and the chief of police, who has been trying to do his job.

"It was a tragic mistake what happened to this family but it was a mistake."