The shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, the man shot in the London Tube after fleeing pursuing plainclothes police, took a strange turn this afternoon. The British Home Office released a statement that his visa had expired, and that the indefinite-leave stamp entered into it di not match that used on the date shown:

The student visa of Jean Charles de Menezes expired two years before he was shot by police, the Home Office says.

Officials said they wished to end speculation over his immigration status but added it was "not intended" to influence any investigations.

A passport stamp apparently giving him indefinite leave to remain "was not in use" on that date, added officials.

Home Office officials quickly noted that they did not intend to make a judgment on the validity of the lethal force used in his capture. However, it does shed some light on why Menezes may have fled police in the first place. It also raises some questions. Why would an electrician have stayed in London on a student visa, and why wouldn't his employer have checked the visa to determine his eligibility to work? Who forged the stamp on his visa, and why?

These questions may all result in mundane answers. Until British investigators find those answers, though, the public should keep an open mind about the circumstances surrounding his death. At the very least, we now know Menezes had reason to flee into the Tube, even if those reasons may or may not have had any connection to al-Qaeda. (via USS Neverdock)

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» An innocent man? from A North American Patriot
An interesting new facet to the story on Jean Charles de Menezes. As always, Captain Ed is on top, of the story. In my earlier post, I commented that no one will ever, really, know why he ran Well, it [Read More]

Tracked on July 28, 2005 2:49 PM

» Innocent man? My Ass! from Scott Kozlowski dot com
News is coming forth that Jean Charles de Meneze, the man shot eight times in a subway station in London after the botched bombing attacks July 21st when he fled from armed police officers and attempted to board a train [Read More]

Tracked on July 29, 2005 12:09 PM