THE man mistaken for a suicide bomber by police was shot eight times, an inquest into his death was told yesterday.

Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, a Brazilian, was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder by undercover officers on Stockwell Tube station in south London.

Mr Menezes was in Britain legally, Jack Straw told a news conference at the Foreign Office last night. The Foreign Secretary said that he had not been briefed on the dead man’s immigration status, but added: “My understanding is that he was here lawfully.”

Celso Amorim, the Brazilian Foreign Minister, also said that “the information we have from our consulate is that he was here legally”.

Tony Blair said that he was “desperately sorry” for the death of Mr Menezes as the Independent Police Complaints Commission promised diligence in the investigation of his killing.

Details of how Mr Menezes, an electrician, died were given at an inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court in South London. The court was told that he was shot eight times. Witnesses had spoken of hearing five shots.

The Home Office is expected to provide further details of Mr Menezes’s immigration status today. His family say that he became legally entitled to stay in Britain four months ago, and had been here for about three years.

Alex Pereira, the dead man’s cousin who also lives in South London, said that Mr Menezes had recently returned from a holiday in Brazil and had no problems at immigration.

“He’s just come from Brazil,” Mr Pereira said. “I went to his home three months ago and he showed me the passport, the visa and the Home Office letter.

“He had a residency visa, the letter confirms that. I have no idea where it is now. But he was legal. He wouldn’t run.”

Gésio César D’avila, a friend of the dead man, said that Mr Menezes kept a letter from the Home Office in his wallet to prove his status if challenged.

Mr Menezes’s family said that they were considering suing the police or the Government over his death.

In his first comments on the shooting, Mr Blair told a press conference in 10 Downing Street that he understood their feelings.

The Prime Minister said: “At the same time, therefore, in expressing our sorrow and deep sympathy for the death that has happened, it is important that we allow the police . . . and support them in doing the job they have to do in order to protect people in this country.”

Nick Hardwick, chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said: “We enter this with open minds, as we search for the truth, and we have accepted the full co-operation of the Metropolitan Police service, which they have pledged.

He added: “Firearms officers have a unique and awesome responsibility. I believe they and the public accept they must be accountable for how they exercise that responsibility.

“But I think that both the police service and public expect that the process of accountability should be proportionate and fair, and that those who judged — with hindsight and in the comfort of an office — the actions that firearms officers take when split-second life-and-death decisions have to be made, do so with great care and a degree of humility.”

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