No police charges over de Menezes shooting

No police officers will be prosecuted over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes despite the inquest jury's open verdict, Crown prosecutors announced today.

CPS lawyers said they had studied "inconsistencies" in evidence presented by police officers at the inquest, which ended in December.

They considered not only charging firearms officers with perjury but also high-ranking officers with gross negligence manslaughter over the confusion which led to the shooting.

However, the decision was taken that there was insufficient evidence against officers for a criminal trial.

The inquest jury had rejected the police's claims that a warning had been shouted at the innocent Brazilian and he that he moved forward threateningly before officers opened fire at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005.

Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot seven times after being mistaken for a suicide bomber the day after the 21/7 attempted attacks.

Banned by the coroner Sir Michael Wright from returning a verdict of unlawful killing, the jury was nevertheless highly critical of the Met's attempts to prove that the victim had been lawfully killed.

Mr de Menezes's family were furious at what they described as "a complete whitewash" by the coroner and demanded charges be brought.

But today Stephen O'Doherty, reviewing lawyer, CPS Special Crime Division, said no further action would be taken.

"I conducted a further review of the case in light of the fresh evidence uncovered by the inquest," said Mr Doherty.

"I have now concluded that there is insufficient evidence that any offence was committed by any individual officers in relation to the tragic death of Mr de Menezes."