De Menezes cops go unnamed

10:40am Tuesday 1st July 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

All 44 police officers who applied for anonymity at the inquest into the shooting death of Jean Charles de Menezes have had their request to go unnamed granted.

Coroner Sir Michael Wright QC approved the move at a pre-inquest hearing yesterday into the Brazilian Herne Hill resident's death.

Electrician Mr de Menezes was shot dead at Stockwell tube station by counter-terrorist police who mistook him for suicide bomber Hussain Osman on July 22, 2005.

The 44 officers will be given code-names or pseudonyms during the proceedings while those giving evidence in person will do so from behind screens.

The de Menezes family have been given special permission to see the anonymous witnesses give evidence.

The coroner said he granted the anonymity request because of the officers were involved in anti-terrorist activities and their was a danger to them and their families if their identities were revealed.

The inquest will take place at the Oval cricket ground conference centre from September 22 and is scheduled to last 12 weeks. Live transcripts of the proceedings will be provided on a website.