The London Metropolitan Police Department has been found guilty of violating workplace safety laws over their execution of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in July 2005. After a one month trial, the jury found that the police failed to exercise proper care when they misidentified Menezes as suspected terrorist Hussain Osman, failed to follow their plan to contain him, and failed to have properly trained and briefed officers in place - all of which led to Menezes' death. Their penalty? A platry 175,000 pound fine, specifically set low so as not to divert resources from policing. Meanwhile, police commissioner Sir Ian Blair is refusing to resign, and the police are continuing to smear Menezes' name in an effort to minimise the killing.
While this is some small justice, it's not enough. A man was killed under highly questionable circumstances. And his killers should be standing trial for murder.
