The tragic story of Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician shot dead by police in London, has resurfaced as his family prepares for the release of a new Disney+ drama series. This four-part series explores the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting, as well as the aftermath and lessons learned. Above all, its purpose is to shine a light on the conditions that led to his death. On July 22, 2005, de Menezes was mistakenly identified as a would-be suicide bomber on the Tube. This particular incident was just one day after unsuccessful terrorist bombings on London’s transport system and two weeks after the horrific 7/7 bombings.
At Stockwell Tube station, police marksmen shot De Menezes seven times in the head and once in the shoulder. The assault was fast and vicious. The arrest led to a public outcry and calls for investigations into police response to potential threats during times of elevated security. Following the death in 2007, the Metropolitan Police were convicted of health and safety legislation violations and were fined. Unfortunately for de Menezes’ family, in 2016 they suffered a legal blow. They subsequently lost a subsequent human rights challenge aimed at charging the police officers who shot her.
In advance of the drama’s premiere, de Menezes’ family has made the journey from Brazil to London. They served as consultants during the show’s development, ensuring that their loved one’s story is accurately represented. As Maria de Menezes, Jean Charles’ mother, said of her efforts to make sure no other families endure what she has endured.
“It’s just the obligation that she feels to fight for justice for him. She’s 80, she just left this small town in Brazil, the other side of the world, to come here just to fight for him.” – BBC News
Giovani da Silva, de Menezes’ brother, said after learning the decision. He hopes that the series will help tell that complete story to the public. He reiterated that it is important for the public to know the real story of what happened to his brother.
In a passionate interview, Vivian Figueiredo, a de Menezes cousin, expressed her hurt sentiments. She started choking up as she remembered the hurt of losing her close-knit family’s first victim. Law enforcement needs to be careful and responsible when responding to these types of calls, she said.
“The police should really be careful, not just suspect and kill because a life is priceless.” – Vivian Figueiredo, BBC News
Maria de Menezes similarly expressed her desire for justice and truth. She went on to say that her faith was restored in the knowledge that the drama would accurately reflect what took place.
“I was reassured that the truth was being told,” – Maria de Menezes, BBC News
In a powerful interview on CNN, she followed this up by scolding past media coverage, insisting that too many stories had failed to reflect her son’s humanity.
“They were going to be truthful about the story unlike other media outlets and other reports previously which told lies.” – Maria de Menezes, BBC News
In talking about his late brother’s character, Giovani painted Jean Charles as a man who was well-educated and had respect for law and order. He stressed that it is critical for audiences to understand the truth about his brother’s life and horrific death.
Jeff Pope had a tough task in writing the drama series. He wanted his film to respect de Menezes’ life and memory while exploring some difficult themes about police accountability.
“It was an incredibly difficult piece to wrangle and understand what you wanted to say. It was enormously important to speak to as many people as possible and to do the research. Every last detail.” – Jeff Pope, BBC News
Second, the Metropolitan Police have accepted blame for their part in this tragic accident. A spokesperson reiterated that no officer intends to take a life while on duty. Their primary aim is to protect and preserve life.
“No officer sets out on duty intent on ending a life. Our sole purpose is the complete opposite – the protection and preservation of life – and we have taken extensive action to address the causes of this tragedy.” – Metropolitan Police spokesperson, BBC News
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