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Marksman lied over Menezes shooting, court told
A police marksman was accused yesterday of lying to explain why he shot Jean Charles de Menezes.
The highly-trained firearms specialist, using the code name C2, revealed how his gun became jammed as he unloaded six bullets at the innocent Brazilian from point-blank range.
But Michael Mansfield QC, for the de Menezes family, claimed C2's evidence that he heard Mr de Menezes was "definitely our man" had been fabricated.
Mr de Menezes died on July 22 2005 after being shot seven times in the head by C2 and his colleague, C12, who both mistook him for failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman.
Evidence from C2 yesterday marked an end to a lengthy wait for the de Menezes family and the Justice4Jean group, who have campaigned to hear evidence from the gunmen since he was shot dead.
Both C2 and C12 spoke of their sorrow for the family and revealed they think about the tragedy "every day" as they came face to face with his mother, brother and cousins for the first time.
But, speaking outside court, the Brazilian's mother, Maria Otone de Menezes, 63, accused C2 of being "very cold", adding: "He may have apologised but it certainly didn't seem like he meant it."
C2, who said he was convinced Mr de Menezes was a terrorist about to set off a bomb, told how he never heard the instruction to go to "state red", meaning the firearms teams should intervene to detain the suspect.
And he said his Glock pistol "malfunctioned" at the critical moment he opened fire at Stockwell Tube station, south London.
C2, who also revealed he only shouted "armed police" after deciding to shoot, said: "At the time I fired I believed that I, and everyone else, was about to die.
"From my position I knew that I could not access the brain stem. I could not be certain that of immediate incapacitation.
"I had to ensure life was extinct also because of the fact I had a stoppage. I could not be certain if I had lost rounds in the process."
When asked if he had to reload the weapon by hand, he said: "Yes, sir, because of the fact it had malfunctioned."
Mr Mansfield later claimed C2 had only one thing in mind as he stepped inside the station – to "shoot this man as quickly as possible".
During fierce questioning, the lawyer – who has claimed C12 "grossly exaggerated" his story – said C2's evidence that he heard surveillance positively identifying the suspect was untrue.
He said: "I suggest in the clearest terms: That was, and is, a lie."
C2 said he jumped over the ticket barrier at the station, ran down the escalator and was directed by surveillance officers on to the Tube train where Mr de Menezes was sitting.
The firearms officer paused to offer his condolences to the Brazilian's family before telling how he shot Mr de Menezes.
He said: "I would like to say that I am a father and that if he were my son, I would be utterly devastated."
C2, who revealed he had never fired at a suspect before, said he was left with blood spattered on his gun, hands, arms and face.
Describing how he stood just behind C12 as Ivor, a surveillance officer, pinned Mr de Menezes to the seat of the carriage, he said he did not recall any warning being shouted.
He told how he felt certain Mr de Menezes was a suicide bomber, adding: "I had an honestly held belief that, unless I acted immediately, that I, and other persons present, were about to die."
He told how he ran forward to get a closer shot, adding: "I ran forward, I reached over the top of the surveillance officer and I pushed him down.
"I shouted 'armed police' and I held my handgun to the head of the subject and I fired."
Like C12 said on Monday, C2 insisted he could have stopped Mr de Menezes before he entered Stockwell Tube, south London.
The inquest continues.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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