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In Greece, the country is in political turmoil and street violence after a single shooting death by police …

Jury rejected a verdict of lawful killing in death of Juan Charles de Menezes

LONDON (Sky News) – The 10 jurors returned an open verdict after listening to more than seven weeks of evidence into the 27-year-old’s death.

Earlier, Mr de Menezes’ family had said the inquest was a “whitewash” after the coroner said the jury could not return a verdict of unlawful killing. But after the jury rejected a string of claims made by police officers about the events leading up to Mr de Menezes being killed, Maria Otone de Menezes said she was relieved.

In a statement read out at a news conference by the family, Mrs de Menezes said: “Since the moment that the coroner ruled out the option of unlawful killing I was feeling very sad. “But today I feel as if I have been reborn.”

In a damning indictment, they dismissed claims by a firearms officer, codenamed C12, that he shouted “armed police” before opening fire. The jury also disputed that Mr de Menezes had walked towards officers before he was killed.

Some 100 people gave evidence at the inquest into the death of Mr de Menezes. Among them were 65 police officers, mostly firearms and surveillance experts, 50 of whom were granted anonymity. The jury also heard from 17 Tube passengers and Mr de Menezes’s cousins.

There was much anticipation that former Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair could give evidence, but he resigned just under two weeks into the inquest.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) called for a review of police procedures in the wake of the shooting.

At the family news conference after the verdict, Asad Rehman from the Justice4Jean campaign claimed the jury had been “gagged” when a verdict of unlawful killing was ruled out.

He said:”There were numerous obstacles placed in the path of that jury. The coroner failed to resist the incredible pressure put on him by the five separate police legal teams and the jury was prevented from considering all the verdicts including unlawful killing.

“The jury was also gagged from writing their own narrative in explaining all the factors which led to Jean’s death. Yet the jury have come back with a damning critique of the police and its failures.”

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    "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

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