Family remember de Menezes
Family remember de Menezes
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Saturday, 22, Jul 2006 08:25
The family of Jean Charles de Menezes have today marked the one year anniversary of his death by laying flowers and holding a one minute's silence at Stockwell London Underground station.
The 27-year-old was killed by police after being mistaken for a suicide bomber at the station a day after failed terrorist bombings in London, with the capital still on high alert after the July 7th attacks.
However, an official report published last week concluded that no individual police officers should face prosecution for the Brazilian electrician's death due to "insufficient evidence".
But the Metropolitan Police will face charges under health and safety legislation for failing to consider the safety of members of the public and its own employees.
Mr Menezes was shot seven times in the head in a tube train by plain clothes officers after he was wrongly identified as a suspect implicated in the failed bombings on July 21st 2005. His only connection with the suspected terrorist was that they lived in the same block of flats.
At 09:30 BST this morning family members laid a wreath of flowers at Stockwell, but a planned meeting to commemorate Mr Menezes with supporters was cancelled due to the escalating violence between Israel and Hizbullah militants in Lebanon.
A statement from the family said: "We believe that the most fitting tribute to Jean's life is for you, your friends and family to take action for peace. We must prevent further conflict and bloodshed.
"Jean had a strong belief in God, in humanity and in peace. He was a man who loved the very essence of life.
"For the last ten days innocent men, women and children have been killed, injured and displaced from their homes in the Middle East. There appears to be no end in sight to the terror being unleashed in the Middle East.
"Indeed the horror of war seems to be on the brink of enveloping the whole region. In light of these events, the families have taken the decision to postpone the meeting."