LONDON: Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian youth shot dead in the head, was not wearing a heavy jacket that might have concealed a bomb, and did not jump the ticket barrier when challenged by armed plainclothes police, his cousin said on Wednesday.

Policy condemned"

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with the London Metropolitan police, Vivien Figueiredo (22), said that the first reports of how her 27-year-old cousin had come to be killed in mistake for a suicide bomber on Friday at Stockwell tube station in south London were wrong.

``He used a travel card,'' she said. ``He had no bulky jacket, he was wearing a jeans jacket. But even if he was wearing a bulky jacket that wouldn't be an excuse to kill him.''

Flanked by the De Menezes family's solicitor, Gareth Peirce, and by Bianca Jagger, the anti-Iraq war campaigner, she condemned the shoot-to-kill policy which had led to her cousin's death and vowed that what she called the ``crime'' would not go unpunished.

``My cousin was an honest and hard working person,'' said Ms Figueiredo who shared a flat with him in Tulse Hill, south London. ``Although we are living in circumstances similar to a war, we should not be exterminating people unjustly.''

Another cousin, Patricia da Silva Armani (21), said he was in Britain legally to work and study, giving him no reason to fear the police. Menezes was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder after being followed from Tulse Hill. Scotland Yard initially claimed he wore a bulky jacket and jumped the barrier when police identified themselves and ordered him to stop. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has begun an inquiry which is expected to take several months. On Wednesday, it emerged one armed officer involved has been given leave, and two have been moved to non-firearm duties. Ms Figuerdo condemned Sir Ian's decision to authorise the leave, saying she wanted to see the man who shot her cousin, and he should be in jail.

The body of Menezes is being flown to Brazil for funeral. Simultaneously, a memorial service will be held at Westminster Cathedral, with TV coverage beamed live to Brazil.

Ms Peirce condemned Sir Ian's statements on the case, saying there had been a ``regrettable rush to judgment''.

She added that the family was ready to cooperate with the complaints body, and she saw no reason for delay.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

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