Call for full report into police shooting

Wednesday, 17 August 2005 12:00 AM

The Liberal Democrats have called for the report into the death of the Brazilian man shot by police last month to be published as soon as possible.

An account of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes on July 22nd, leaked to ITV News, suggests major discrepancies with the official version.

Police said the 27-year-old electrician ran away from them as they were carrying out investigations into the failed bombings of July 21st. They suggested he vaulted a ticket barrier at Stockwell underground station and ran towards a train.

But the report suggests Mr Menezes walked into the station, even stopping to pick up a newspaper, and then ran with other commuters as a train approached the platform.

According to the leaked report, he was shot eleven times - several more than was previously thought - seven times in the head and once in the shoulder, with three other bullets missing him.

In addition, it claims he was not carrying any bags or wearing a padded winter coat as previous reports suggested. Instead, he wore a denim jacket and was behaving "normally".

Last night Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said the revelations, if true, caused "obvious concerns" and must be clarified.

"If true, these preliminary findings will create obvious concerns. It is in the best interests of the police and the community for the full report and any recommendations, to be published as quickly as possible," he said.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating Mr Menezes death, refused to comment on the details of the leak.

In a statement, it said the family of Mr Menezes would "clearly be distressed that they have received information on television concerning his death".

The IPCC added that it operated a "very high degree of security" on all of its investigations.

Speaking this morning Conservative leader Michael Howard backed the IPCC's stance, saying public comment on the death of Mr Menezes "was not helpful".

"We haven't had the report of the independent commission and until we get that report, we should all exercise some restraint," he told Today.

"When the report is available, that will be the time to comment and that will be the time to examine the lessons which can be learned."

Mr Howard declined to comment on whether he believed a public inquiry into the shooting was necessary.

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