Jean Charles de Menezes: Tributes paid 10 years after death

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The cousin of John Charles de Menezes: "His memory is alive"

Family members have paid tribute to Jean Charles de Menezes at the Tube station where he was shot dead by police 10 years ago.

A ceremony was held at Stockwell, south London, where the Brazilian was killed after being mistaken for a terror suspect.

A minute's silence was held marking the exact moment the 27-year-old was shot.

Dozens joined Mr de Menezes' cousins at the memorial outside the station to pay tribute to him and lay flowers.

Mr de Menezes was killed the day after failed bombing attempts on the London transport network, two weeks after the 7/7 terror attacks in central London.

Read more about the 48 hours which unnerved a city.

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Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by police on 22 July 2005

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Mr de Menezes' cousin Vivian Figueiredo answers questions from the media at the ceremony

'Fighting for justice'

The Crown Prosecution Service decided that no police officers should be prosecuted over Jean Charles's killing.

The family are now challenging that decision at the European Court of Human Rights.

At the anniversary event, Mr de Menezes' cousin Vivian Figueiredo called for "kindness, love and respect" and said: "Jean Charles's name cannot be forgotten."

Speaking about the case, she said: "We deserve it [justice] and a lot of people who are out there fighting for justice need this.

"I really appreciate that the case was heard by the European Court of Human Rights and I hope it benefits other families as well."

Of those who gathered to remember Mr de Menezes, she added: "For me it means a lot. It means his memory is alive and that's not the end. Things can change."

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What happened to Jean Charles de Menezes?

  • Two weeks after the 7/7 London bombings, the capital's transport network is targeted again, but the bombers' devices fail to explode

  • A manhunt is launched for four men suspected of trying to carry out the attack

  • Police find an address in Scotia Road, Tulse Hill, written on a gym membership in one of the unexploded bags used by the bombers

  • Jean Charles, who lived in one of the flats at Scotia Road, is wrongly identified by police as Hussain Osman

  • He is shot dead on 22 July by police at Stockwell Tube station

  • Four men, including Osman, are later convicted over the botched bombing attempt

For more about Jean Charles de Menezes click here.

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Image source, AP
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Many gathered to lay flowers at the memorial site of Mr de Menezes

The service, which has been held each year since Mr de Menezes was killed, was organised by the Justice for Jean campaign.

Asad Rehman, a spokesman for the family and a member of the group, said Mr de Menezes' death reflected wider issues about police accountability and trust.

He said the family's case at the European Court of Human Rights was significant both to the family and the wider public and their perception of police.

He said: "The struggle of this family is a really important issue in terms of should people be able to act with impunity.

"If there can be justice for the family it's not only justice for them individually - it goes some way to rebuilding trust in our police forces and the Metropolitan Police Force, and that can only be a good thing for everybody."