Menezes 'could have been stopped'

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead at Stockwell Tube station

A firearms officer has said he could have stopped Jean Charles de Menezes entering Stockwell Tube station, where the Brazilian was shot dead.

The officer, identified by the code name C12, told an inquest a series of mistakes led to Mr de Menezes' death.

He admitted not reporting that he was close to Mr de Menezes - but said he "had a lot going on" and "things happened so quickly" that day.

Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot on 22 July 2005, mistaken for a suicide bomber.

Police searching for failed bomber Hussain Osman had tracked Mr de Menezes from his home in Tulse Hill, south London, to the station.

Radio traffic

The officer told the inquest he was waiting outside the station when Mr de Menezes arrived.

Michael Mansfield QC, for the Menezes family, asked him whether he had heard incorrect radio reports that no armed officers were nearby to stop the suspect.

C12 replied: "No sir."

Mr Mansfield continued: "Because the truth was you were there and you could have done it, couldn't you?"

I thought I was going to die and I took action to stop that Firearms officer C12

The officer said: "Yes sir."

Mr Mansfield asked C12 what had gone wrong with the police operation on the day.

The officer replied: "From the information I had received through the briefings, through the positive identification given to me by the surveillance officers, by Mr de Menezes's actions, both when we were getting on to the Tube [and] when I challenged him - everything I have thought sadly proved to be wrong."

C12 admitted the onus was on him to tell his commanders that he could stop Mr de Menezes.

CCTV footage of officers at Stockwell tube station

"The only explanation I am offering to you is that things happened so quickly as we came closer," he said.

"Why I did not tell them where I was I just cannot tell you. I was trying to listen to the radio, I had a lot going on, and if that is an error, then you know, I apologise for it."

'Life extinct'

Mr Mansfield asked C12 why he shot the Brazilian more than once.

"I had to make sure life was extinct," he said. "I had to incapacitate instantly. I just could not take any chances.

"I do not want to take anyone else's life. If there was an alternative to do anything else that day, believe me I would have taken it."

C12 admitted fear did play a part in his behaviour, but said he was "in control" of himself.

I have tried to be brutally honest about everything C12

"Fear was certainly there... as regard to controlling my actions, it is possible it had some impact, yes. I cannot deny that.

"I thought I was going to die and I took action to stop that."

'Critical shot'

The officer was also accused of "embellishing" and "grossly exaggerating" his statement to explain why he thought Mr de Menezes was a terrorist - something he denied.

"I have tried to be brutally honest about everything. I have got to justify what I have done. Justifying what I have done doesn't mean that I am going to break the law," he said.

Mr Mansfield continued: "What I suggest is in your mind that once you knew he was identified, that was it - you are down the escalator, on the carriage and he is dead."

C12 replied: "That could not be further from the truth. I did not even know where he was at that stage, let alone delivering a critical shot. I just did not have that in mind."

He said did call out a warning to Mr de Menezes - "armed police" - before opening fire, but Mr Mansfield insisted that other witnesses had heard no such shout.

The inquest continues.