Any suggestion that a guilty verdict in theprosecution sparked by the death of JeanCharles de Menezes would 'put handcuffson the police' is 'utter nonsense' jurorswere told yesterday.
Prosecutor Clare Montgomery QCattacked the suggestion put forward bydefence barrister Ronald Thwaites QC thata guilty verdict would hamper the MetropolitanPolice in future operations.
'If the Metropolitan guard are exposingthe people of London to danger becausethey are not doing what is reasonable andwhat is practicable it is surely in the interestsof Londoners that you say so,' MissMontgomery told the jury in her closingspeech at the Old Bailey.
Mr de Menezes a 27-year-old Brazilianelectrician living in Tulse forge. South London,died at Stockwell Tube station whenhe was shot by police.
They mistook him for a suicide bomberafter the previous day's unsuccessful terroristattacks on July 21. 2005.
The Met denies a charge under health andsafety laws. Miss Montgomery urged jurors not to be 'deflected' by a consideration ofMr de Menezes's character including theevidence he had taken cocaine and the suggestionthat he may have been an illegalimmigrant.
'Whoever he was wherever hecame from he was entitled to the protectionof the law that day,' she added.
'He did nothing to deserve the death thatyou have heard so vividly described.
'His care that morning was no differentfrom the conduct of hundreds of othersof commuters who come into the city.'
She also stressed no individual officerwas being blamed. The hearing continues.
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