de Menezes

It's rare for the lamentable ITV News Channel to scoop anyone, but they have got hold of some crucial documents relating to the execution of Mr de Menezes last month. It confirms what anyone who reads more widely than the mainstream already knows, i.e. that Jean Charles was not carrying any bags, was wearing a denim jacket, not a bulky winter coat, he was behaving normally, and did not vault the barriers, even stopping to pick up a free newspaper. ITV further report that there were no warnings given before de Menezes was killed and that the officer responsible for the identification of Mr de Menezes was off having a piss when he left the flat and that therefore the identification was not 100%. The officers had decided amongst themselves that they would shoot if Mr de Menezes ran, but he actually only ran to get on the train, he was sitting down when shot.

Quite where this leaves the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is unclear. It was he, you will remember, who gave the official version of events in a solemn press conference soon after the deed. He must have know it was all a pack of lies, will he resign now, will anyone? Or will the stress mean he has to take a long holiday like the executioner?