Menezes officer believed he faced "immeasurable danger"
Jean Charles de Menezes was killed by the Met in 2005
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Friday, 24, Oct 2008 07:37
One of the Metropolitan police officer who shot and killed Jean Charles de Menezes has admitted he had never fired at a suspect before the incident at Stockwell tube station in 2005.
The officer, known only as C12, spoke to the inquest into the Brazilian's death at the Oval cricket ground from behind a screen, to protect his identity, today.
He admitted her had received a "very short briefing" about the failed suicide bomb attacks on the previous day, July 21st, and was led to believe he was in "immeasurable danger".
Mr de Menezes was shot on the London Underground after officers mistook him for a suicide bomber. His mother, Maria Otone de Menezes, 63, and his brother were present to hear C12 give his evidence on Friday.
When asked by Nicholas Hilliard, counsel for the inquest, if it was true had never fired his gun at a suspect before the incident, C12 answered: "That is correct."
Today was the first time the officer has given evidence over the fatal shooting.
He said that prior to the shooting he had received few details on what they police force was planning on doing.
"I cannot specifically recall the details but the general talk involved a counter-terrorist operation following the... previous day's bombings," he said.
"It was a very short briefing - a pen-sketch idea of what we were doing and where we had to go immediately."
This afternoon, C12 extended his condolences to the de Menezes family, saying: "I am responsible for the death of an innocent man and it is something I have to live with for the rest of my life.
"Everything I have ever trained for – for threat assessment, seeing threats, perceiving threats and acting on threats – proved wrong," he said.
The inquest continues.