Met Police on trial over De Menezes shooting

The Metropolitan Police goes on trial at the Old Bailey today over alleged health and safety failures that led to an innocent Brazilian man being mistaken for a terrorist and shot dead.

Jean Charles de Menezes was killed at Stockwell Tube station on July 22 2005 by firearms officers who wrongly believed he was about to launch a suicide attack, one day after a series of failed bombs attacks on London's Tube and bus network.

He was followed to the south London station from an address police believed was linked to Hussain Osman, one of the failed July 21 bombers.

The Met is accused of failing to conduct the operation without exposing members of the public, including Mr de Menezes, to risk. The force denies the charge.

The charge, under the Health and Safety at Work act 1974, focuses on the "investigation and surveillance of a location believed to be connected with a suspected suicide bomber, and the planning and the implementation of the surveillance, pursuit, arrest and detention of a suspected suicide bomber, and the prevention of a suicide bombing".