Police Lies Exposed in New Drama on Jean Charles De Menezes Shooting

by

Twenty summers back, I found myself in London as a young Brazilian electrician, and my story is one that’s filled with nothing short of astonishing bad luck. For instance, if fate hadn’t led me to live at an address linked to a man under suspicion for a recent London terrorist attack, I would have never been caught up in the police’s watchful eye.

On July 22, 2005, what followed for Jean Charles de Menezes was not mere bad luck; it appears to have been a grave display of police incompetence instead. Despite no definitive identification of the actual suspect, this innocent 27-year-old was chased onto a London Underground train, where he was fatally shot by armed officers. This was followed by deception. False stories circulated that the police were wary because their target fled from officers, jumped over a Tube barrier, wore bulky clothing in warm weather, and was allegedly an unauthorized immigrant or under investigation for another crime.

It wasn’t true any of it, but the misinformation spread so deeply that some may still think it’s accurate today. Moreover, no police officer has faced blame or punishment following de Menezes’s death, although Sir Ian Blair’s police office was penalized for a health and safety law violation.

20 years later, Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes, a four-part series on Disney Plus, intends to shed light on the police’s mistakes and restore the tarnished reputation of an entirely innocent victim. “We hope this show will enlighten people about the story,” says Maria, Jean Charles’ mother, speaking via a translator during a visit to London to back the series. “This drama is now exposing all the deceptions by the police.

Giovanni, brother of Jean Charles de Menezes, acknowledges it was a challenging spectacle for us. Certain segments of the movie have been identified as unbearable by our mother, promising not to revisit them again. Some moments in the film evoked intense memories; these scenes left our mother in tears.

Despite the monetary reimbursement provided by the British government for all the suffering endured, there was neither an explanation nor an apology offered. According to Giovanni, this financial compensation aided in covering lost income and disrupted plans, yet it failed to address any underlying issues.

According to Jeff Pope, the police maintained during the inquiry that no errors were committed, years after the incident. However, some of the blunders from that operation on that particular morning were so fundamental that it’s hard to justify them.

The Pope is known for producing fact-based dramas; his works include A Confession, Little Boy Blue on ITV, and The Reckoning for BBC, which focused on Jimmy Savile. However, he was initially hesitant about the idea of a drama based on the de Menezes story when another producer, Kwadjo Dajan, proposed it to him.

As a movie reviewer, I’d rephrase it like this: “I have a clear recollection of seeing him get shot, but the narrative playing out in my mind was muddled,” I admit now. “Initially, I believed it was a tragic accident, that he was rushing down the stairs and somehow leaped over the barricade.” However, I was taken aback to uncover that none of what I ‘remembered’ was factual. The only individuals running and jumping barriers were the police officers pursuing him. Jean Charles, in reality, used his travel card and walked down the stairs.

In many fact-based dramas, thorough investigation and access to information are crucial steps. However, in this instance, all necessary details were readily available, having been presented in various public investigations: two by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the Health and Safety at Work Executive, and a coroner’s inquest.

According to Pope, the focus wasn’t on discovering sensational secrets, but rather on organizing and interpreting the information that’s already been gathered in the investigations. For instance, if the police claimed they shouted “Armed police,” but 17 witnesses say they didn’t, it’s about allowing the audience to form their own conclusions.

For the de Menezes family, Commissioner Blair (portrayed by Conleth Hill in the drama) and Cressida Dick (played by Emily Mortimer), who held a leadership role during the tragic incident, were the two primary suspects of confusion leading to the fatal shooting. The fact that Cressida Dick was commended by the Health and Safety Executive for stating that none of this was her responsibility is puzzling to Pope, who finds it difficult to accept this outcome.

Maria, whose son was tragically killed under the supervision of Dick, concurs: “I harbor no malice within me. Yet, I carry strong feelings about how the police officers handled my son’s situation. I hold a deep resentment towards Cressida Dick due to her handling of the operation.

In the drama titled “Suspect,” viewers might be taken aback by its unique structure – though the title implies that the suspect would play a significant role, surprisingly, the victim becomes almost incidental to the narrative.

Pope clarifies that crafting the narrative required careful consideration. “Since the subtitle refers to the Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes,” he says, “I wanted to ensure his presence in the first two episodes wasn’t confusing. Instead, when we’re introduced to him, he is portrayed as just another Londoner, dealing with the Tube closure on July 7th due to terrorist attacks – a context that sets the stage for understanding his story better.

In an attempt to clarify, the suspect explains how the tragic events of July 7, 2005, when Islamist terrorists detonated four bombs on London’s public transportation system, resulting in the death of 56 people (including four suicide bombers), led to the fatal mistake made on July 22. However, it is essential to understand that there was a significant event connecting these dates: on July 21, another group of would-be suicide bombers tried and failed in five separate attacks.

According to Pope, he initially overlooked July 21st, but it’s significant. On the 22nd, the police were puzzled about who was responsible for the 7/7 attacks and now had another group to contend with, which caused a great deal of apprehension and suspicion. It was considered one of the most severe assaults on London since the Second World War.

He remarks: “They were undoubtedly convinced that Jean Charles de Menezes was a terrorist when they descended upon that platform. The general sentiment back then was excitement: ‘We’ve caught one!’

Despite the clarity Pope expressed, it’s important to note that context should not be used as a means of exoneration. He cautioned, “I must tread carefully because hindsight offers perfect vision. Yet, there are numerous unanswered questions. Why isn’t there any CCTV footage from the bus or the train station? It begins to smell suspicious. No footage! What’s happening there?

The Pope is equally harsh in his criticism towards Ian Blair and Cressida Dick. Despite the disaster occurring under her leadership, Cressida Dick went on to become the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. His comments suggest that, given the opportunity, both should have admitted fault: “If they had shown remorse instead of just regret, we wouldn’t be in this situation today. It seems odd for her not to apologize; an apology could have gone a long way. The difference between ‘regret’ and ‘remorse’ is significant, and it’s the latter that truly matters to me.

According to Giovanni de Menezes, while an apology might not solve the problem, it would still be a morally and humane action.

Perhaps the Met is similar to other organizations that have faced scandals – such as the Post Office, the Vatican, the Church of England, or the BBC in the Savile case – where top officials may band together to safeguard their positions, pensions, and the institution’s reputation.

“I couldn’t possibly comment,” says Pope. “But you might be on to something.”

In a similar vein to the case of Mr. Bates versus the Post Office (a rare significant factual play not penned by Pope), attorneys often counsel their clients against expressing apologies since such actions might lead to claims for damages or prosecution.

“Correct. Legally, things are often set up that you can never admit guilt.”

Interestingly enough, even the subject under scrutiny – Suspect – has received some criticism. This comes from victims’ representatives and survivors (over 770 people were injured) of the 7/7 attacks, who expressed disapproval when photographs taken during filming revealed a simulation of the bombed bus in central London.

Pope explains, ‘I get why there was all the commotion considering a bus explosion was in the background, which is quite an iconic image.’ However, he clarifies, ‘We don’t sensationalize the 7/7 incident, and Suspect isn’t about 7/7. The intent was to convey: that event just occurred – now let’s explore its aftermath.’

It’s worth noting that filming in London streets with a crew necessitates approval from the Metropolitan Police. Notably, it was Commissioner Mark Rowley, the successor of Cressida Dick, who granted this permission. According to Pope, he maintained a distance but didn’t hinder our work.

Regardless of how the events are perceived, it’s undeniably tough for the family of the victim to relive those moments. A troubling detail that surfaces in Suspect is that, prior to his death, de Menezes was actually arranging to relocate his home. As Maria confirms, “He intended to construct a house close to where we resided.” His desire was to get married and settle down in Brazil, living near his parents.

It seems difficult for her to visit London due to the circumstances in this place, as she hesitantly admits. She’s looking out of the office window where we’re conversing. “To be completely truthful,” she begins, “I came only because I wanted everything to be perfectly clarified and understood. I shouldn’t be here. My age isn’t ideal, I’m not in good health, and my husband requires me at home. Life back there is challenging, yet I had to come here, as it was necessary. For my son.

Read More

2025-04-22 17:35