The family of Jean Charles de Menezes branded his inquest a “whitewash” today after a jury rejected police claims that the Brazilian was lawfully killed.
The 10 jurors returned an open verdict after listening to more than seven weeks of evidence at the inquest into the 27-year-old’s death.
Police marksmen shot Mr de Menezes seven times at Stockwell Tube station in south London on July 22nd 2005 after mistaking him for failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman.
The jury rejected a firearms officer’s claim that he shouted “armed police” before opening fire at Mr de Menezes.
But jurors accepted police claims that Mr de Menezes stood up in the carriage before he was grabbed in a bear-hug before the shooting.
As the jury returned its verdict, Mr de Menezes’s family criticised coroner Sir Michael Wright. In an attack on the former High Court judge, they said he “failed on every count” during proceedings.
A family statement, released through the Justice4Jean campaign group, said: “After three months of evidence, 100 witnesses and millions of pounds, the coroner, Sir Michael Wright, has presided over a complete whitewash.
“He has failed on every count of the purpose of an inquest investigation.”
The family withdrew its legal team after losing a High Court battle to change elements of the terms of the verdicts available to the jury.
An appeal to introduce unlawful killing as an option was adjourned - but fresh attempts to overturn the verdict are under way, sources close to the family say.
Amid protests, proceedings were delayed by half a day as chaotic scenes erupted in and outside court just before the jurors retired to consider their verdict.
PA