Town halls spared £2m cost of Menezes inquest

The Government will help town halls meet the cost of the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, it was announced today.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the bill for the hearings was just over £2 million.

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, has been urging ministers not to leave the costs to boroughs including Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Mr Straw, in reply to a parliamentary question, said: "The Government have agreed that this inquest is exceptional and financial support to the local authorities will therefore be provided."

Justice Ministry and Home Office officials are in talks over the sums involved.

The inquest jurors returned an open verdict, by an eight-to-two majority, on the shooting of the innocent Brazilian electrician by police marksmen in July 2005.

The 27-year-old was killed on a train at Stockwell Tube station after he was mistaken for one of the failed 21 July bombers.

The jurors had been banned from considering an unlawful killing verdict. The Met Police was criticised for a catalogue of errors.