Does This Mean They Don't Know?

The face of a terrorist, yesterday...

And so I read, last week, with a feeling not really covered by the word "cynicism", that an "open verdict" was given, with regard to the death of Brazilian Jean Charles De Menezes, marking the end of yet another hush-up inquest into Police inadequacy.

Now, I'm no legal eagle, but I could have sworn that the term "open verdict" referred to doubt over the guilt of an accused, or regarding any alleged foul play. So, I checked online, and, oh look! I was wrong: it's something far more accusatory...

If you are unfamiliar with the saga that this sorry story of an innocent man's death has become, let me recap: in July 2005, there were two attempts to debilitate the infrastructure of the London Transport system. One succeeded, and one failed. A few days after the failed attempt, the anti-terroist unit of the Metropolitan Police raided the homes of the suspects, and, in one underground station, chased a supposed suspect, who had fled in the confusion, before shooting him in the head twice: you know, just to make sure they'd caught him... Only, he wasn't actually an Islamic Fundametalist terrorist; he wasn't even muslim. He was a brazillian electrician, working in London. He had no weaponry on him, but was wearing a backpack. He simply ran onto a train, in fear of being near any crossfire, ironically leading to his tragic death. As he lay on the floor of the carriage, following Police orders, he was shot. In the head. Twice.

It seems that the jury accepted that De Menezes' death was suspicious, but not specifying the cause. In my opinion, and that of many other people, the cause was the Police.

I say the words "seems" and "death", because I'm trying to be diplomatic. However, if one reads into the verdict, one might very quickly come to the conclusion that the jury voted for the open verdict, given that the verdict of an unlawful killing was disallowed. Which means, if I may be so bold as to throw my two pence worth into the "debate", the jury - along with anyone with half a brain and a sense of justice - KNOWS that de Menezes was MURDERED by two incompetent (at best; at worst, the word "bloodthirsty" comes to mind) police officers.

How ironic that the edict of the law and its enforcers existing to protect people is so continually repeated, when discussing jurisprudence, don't you think?

From the BBC NEWS website. Caption reads: "The prosecution say the police doctored an image of Jean Charles de Menezes for a composite picture comparing him with bomb plotter Hussain Osman" Well, there you are, then...