Menezes cousin leads deaths in custody demo

All Credits: Lancaster Guardian

The cousin of Jean Charles de Menezes, the innocent Brazilian mistaken by police for a suicide bomber and shot dead at Stockwell Tube station, has led a poignant protest against deaths in custody.

Patricia da Silva Armani walked alone, carrying a wreath, ahead of the procession of demonstrators who gathered in central London to raise the plight of their own loved ones.

About 200 protesters, all friends and family members of people who died either in police custody, in prison or in secure psychiatric hospitals, followed her down Whitehall.
Dressed in black and holding banners proclaiming slogans including "Murderers get life, police get promoted", the group marched in silence before halting outside Downing Street.

Ms Da Silva Armani said: "It is very important for all the families to come together and demonstrate because together we have a greater chance of achieving justice. "It is very sad and difficult for me to come here today and it is sad for me to see the injustices the other families are facing. "We are here to continue to fight for someone to be held criminally responsible for Jean's death. That is the only way we feel we can get justice."

Mr de Menezes was shot dead on July 22, 2005. Specialist firearms officers mistook him for suicide bomber Hussain Osman and shot him seven times.
The Metropolitan Police is currently on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of a "catastrophic" series of errors leading to his death. It denies a single charge under health and safety legislation.
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The 9th Annual Remembrance Procession was organised by the United Families and Friends Campaign, which claims around 600 people die in custody every year.