BBC : Ceremony to mark de Menezes death

Ceremony to mark de Menezes death

Sunday, July 22, 2007

The second anniversary of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is to be marked by a ceremony on Sunday.

The Brazilian was shot dead at Stockwell Tube station on 22 July 2005 by police who had mistakenly identified him as a suicide bomber.

Relatives of Mr de Menezes, along with friends and campaigners, will gather at the station at 1000 BST (0900 GMT).

They will hold a one-minute silence and lay flowers close to a makeshift shrine to the 27-year-old electrician.

On Friday night an image of the Brazilian - accompanied by the words "Two Years, No Justice" - was beamed on to the side of the Houses of Parliament.

The image projection took place as a protest against the decision not to bring criminal charges over Mr de Menezes' death.

Inquest delay

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided no individual should be prosecuted, although the Metropolitan Police is facing trial under health and safety legislation in October, a process which could take up to eight weeks.

An inquest into Mr de Menezes' death has been put on hold until the legal action is concluded.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has not yet revealed whether any senior officers are to face disciplinary punishment.

A spokeswoman for the Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign said Parliament should make sure the police were held to account for what had happened.

"We call on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to meet with us to explain the lack of any credible investigation into Jean's death," she said.

"It is her responsibility to guarantee public faith in the judicial process."

Mr de Menezes' family is to also hold a public meeting on Monday in central London to give further details of their campaign work.