Tomlinson police officer to face manslaughter trial (London G20)

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

A police officer will face trial for manslaughter over the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests.

PC Simon Harwood, 43, a Metropolitan police officer, will face a criminal prosecution for striking Tomlinson with a baton and pushing him to the ground in April 2009.

Tomlinson, 47, had been trying to make his way home from work through demonstrations near the Bank of England when he was pushed from behind. He collapsed and died three minutes later.

Three weeks ago an inquest jury decided Tomlinson was "unlawfully killed".

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/24/tomlinson-police-officer-manslaughter-trial

---

Good. This shows that non-public inquiries do not always get enough evidence out - the inquest process (which can be horribly delayed in the UK sometimes) is credited with assembling enough evidence for the prosecution.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Good

Disgusting episode.

[Kelvin Mace]

2. The question is how vigorously the prosecutor will act

Given that they did all in their power to not prosecute in the first place.

Britain allows for "private prosecutions" and I wonder if the family might not be better served hiring their own prosecutor, one who is not an ally of the police with a vested interest in keeping policeman out of chokey.

Perhaps some UK-based DU member can address this unique point of British law?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Private prosecutions normally only happen when the CPS has declined prosecution

and the CPS actually has the right to take over any private prosecution (eg when they discontinued a private prosecution for 'outraging public decency'). So a private prosecution wouldn't be possible now, I think - and also too expensive for a family who is not rich (you can't get legal aid for a private prosecution, I think).

Now the prosecution is going ahead, I think it will be done properly - what the inquest uncovered was that one part of the police force covered up evidence that other policemen gave, which meant the initial autopsy was done without telling the pathologist he had been struck and pushed to the ground. The result of that autopsy (which said he died from a heart condition) had put the chances of a conviction in doubt.

[Downwinder]

3. From the clips I saw this seemed to be SOP. About like Egypt.

Who put the dogs on Tomlinson?

[Lenomsky]

5. PC Facing Manslaughter Charge Over G20 Death

Source: Sky News

First NEWS post EVA! IIRC be gentle :)

"PC Facing Manslaughter Charge Over G20 Death

2:44pm UK, Tuesday May 24, 2011

Martin Brunt, Sky Crime correspondent

G20 policeman PC Simon Harwood is to be prosecuted for the alleged manslaughter of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson.

The announcement reverses a decision taken by prosecutors last summer.

It follows a review of the case three weeks after an inquest jury heard new medical evidence and agreed that 47-year-old Mr Tomlinson had been unlawfully killed."

http://tinyurl.com/3f2pcgd

original linky

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/PC-Simon-Harwood-To-Face-Manslaughter-Charge-Over-G20-Protest-Death-Of-Ian-Tomlinson-in-2009/Article/201105415998493?lpos=UK_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15998493_PC_Simon_Harwood_To_Face_Manslaughter_Charge_Over_G20_Protest_Death_Of_Ian_Tomlinson_in_2009

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/3f2pcgd

---

Not before time!!