Menezes gunmen could face charges

A Metropolitan Police commander and two firearms officers could face manslaughter charges over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, it was reported last night.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been asked to consider the charges by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The firearms officers have not been identified but the senior officer was named as Commander Cressida Dick, who was in charge of firearms operations on July 22, 2005.

The news came just four days before the CPS was due to formally announce whether it will bring charges in connection with the shooting at S tockwell Underground station.

A spokeswoman for the CPS dismissed the report as "pure speculation". She said: "We are not discussing the case until we give the decision."

An IPCC spokesman said: "We will not comment on speculation and we are not going to comment on this. There is nothing we can say."

In an interview with the BBC, retired Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Given said the three should not face charges.

Mr Given spoke to the two firearms officers on the day of the shooting and attended meetings with other senior officers about the situation.

He said: "I am one of the few people who spoke to the officers at the time, and if we are taking people's initial reaction to what happened as some window into the soul of what they thought they were doing on the day, then they thought they were doing the right job.

"They thought they were protecting London against what could have been another terrorist attack."

Asked if he thought they should be prosecuted, he replied: "In my view, no."

A spokesman for the Justice for Jean Campaign said his family, friends and supporters are still "in the dark".

He said: "We have not seen the IPCC report. We remain in the dark. We hope that we can begin the process of finding out why and how Jean died and start the process of bringing those responsible to justice."

The decision on whether any police officers are to be charged over the death of Mr de Menezes will be announced on Monday.