The head of the British police team that shot dead an innocent Brazilian on the London underground, broke down in court today as he defended his squad's actions.
The senior officer, named "Ralph" to protect his identity, told the Old Bailey he was "very proud" of his team despite shooting Jean Charles de Menezes seven times in the head after mistaking him for a suicide bomber
The 27-year-old victim was gunned down as he boarded an underground train in south London on July 22nd, 2005, by officers who wrongly identified him as one of four men who tried to attack the London transport system the day before.
De Menezes lived in the same block of flats as Hussein Osman, one of four men jailed earlier this year for plotting the unsuccessful July 21st attacks.
No police officer is being prosecuted, but the London police force as a whole has been charged with breaking health and safety laws over the killing.
The officer insisted his team thought they were risking their lives to prevent another suicide bombing. His statement ended: "I hope that is not forgotten."
Asked by counsel for the force what he thought about being a prosecution witness, he started sobbing in the witness box. Mr Justice Henriques, the trial judge, said: "I think the response speaks for itself."
Prosecutors have described the shooting as a "shocking and catastrophic error".