A jury in London has been told that the shooting dead by police of Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005 was caused by fundamental failures to carry out a planned operation safely.
Armed officers had mistaken the Brazilian for a suicide bomber. The Metropolitan Police force is being prosecuted for breaches of health and safety laws.
27-year-old Mr de Menezes was shot dead by police in front of passengers as he boarded a London underground train on 22 July 2005. It was shortly after the suicide bombings on the city's transport system and the officers mistook him for another bomber.
No single officer has been prosecuted in connection with the death but today at the Old Bailey the Metropolitan police force is on trial corporately over alleged health and safety failures leading to the death.
Opening the prosecution case, Clare Montgomery QC told the jury that the Brazilian's death was not the result of a fast-moving operation going suddenly and unpredictably awry, but the result of fundamental failures to carry out a planned operation in a safe and reasonable way.
The force could face an unlimited fine if found guilty.
