'Nothing can erase the pain': Jean Charles de Menezes vigil takes place 20 years after fatal Stockwell police shooting
Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead on the tube 20 years ago, after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.
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Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes was shot by two policemen seven times in the head and once in the shoulder in Stockwell station on July 22 2005.
The 27-year-old was mistaken for a suspect after a failed bombing attempt on the London transport network - two weeks after the 7/7 bombings in central London.
His family gathered outside Stockwell station on Tuesday to remember Mr de Menezes 20 years on.
His cousin Patricia da Silva Armani said: "For our family, the grief of that loss and the injustice surrounding it are still with us, every single day.
"Nothing can erase the pain of knowing that the life of a hard-working, kind, and honest young man was taken from us out of prejudice and incompetence."
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The Met Police was fined for breaching health and safety laws, but no officers were prosecuted for the killing.
The force apologised to the family again in April.
Mr de Menezes was mistaken for a suspect because they were linked to the same black of flats.
His mother, Maria de Menezes, said to the BBC she wanted the real story portrayed after there were incorrect initial reports that he jumped the barriers and hit police.
"Twenty years on, we must ask ourselves: what has truly changed? The reality is, the Metropolitan Police have not learned the lessons from Jean's death," Ms da Silva Armani said.
"To this day, we still see misinformation spread after contentious police killings. And far too often, these cases end with no justice, no transparency, no answers."
"Jean's memory demands more than words - it demands truth, accountability, and real change. We will not forget. We will not be silent.
"We will keep demanding justice — for him, for us, and for everyone failed by a system that continues to harm the most vulnerable."
One of the marksmen who shot Mr de Menezes told Channel 4 last November he was certain "we were going to die" if they did not act.
'Deep regret'
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said “The events of 22 July 2005 remain a matter of deep regret to the Met and have had a major and lasting impact on counter-terrorism policing in this country.
"Twenty years after the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the thoughts of all of us at the Metropolitan Police are today with his family and friends.”
A Met spokesperson said: “The shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes remains a matter of deep regret to us all at the Metropolitan Police. Today our thoughts are with his friends and family.
“The circumstances leading to his death were rightly subject to numerous public inquiries, after which we immediately implemented the recommendations made by the IPCC.
“In the 20 years since this tragic incident we have continued to proactively improve our processes, policies and training and UK authorised firearms officers are now the most accountable in the world. In London they respond to around 4,000 incidents each year with, on average, only two shots fired at suspects annually.
“The Government continues to review police officer accountability to improve both public and Police officer confidence in the system.”
A timeline of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes
July 22 2005 Jean Charles de Menezes shot dead by police at Stockwell Tube station.
July 17 2006 CPS says no officers will be prosecuted. Met Police to be tried for breaching health and safety laws.
November 1 2007 Met Police found guilty of breaching health and safety laws and fined
October 22 2008 Inquest under way. Coroner rules out unlawful killing verdict a month later.
December 12 2008 Inquest jury returns open verdict.
November 16 2009 Met Police settles damages claim with family.
June 10 2015 De Menezes family take legal challenge to European Court of Human Rights.
March 30 2016 Family lose challenge over decision not to charge any police officer over the shooting.
