Ian Tomlinson was unlawfully killed at the G20 protests in London, an inquest jury has ruled. Pc Simon Harwood was ruled to have used “excessive and unreasonable” force in striking him.
Newspaper vendor Tomlinson, 47, collapsed and died after Pc Harwood hit him with a baton and pushed him to the ground during the G20 protests in London on 1 April 2009.
Pc Harwood has been accused by Ian Tomlinson’s family of telling lies during the inquest.
The jury decided today that Pc Harwood used “excessive and unreasonable” force in striking him Tomlinson who posed no threat and was not taking part in the G20 protests. The verdict that Ian Tomlinson was unlawfully killed has been passed.
Ian Tomlinson “did not pose threat”
Tomlinson’s death sparked international outrage when footage emerged of Harwood hitting him with a baton moments before he collapsed and died.
CTV images, police helicopter footage and hand-held video recordings show Mr Tomlinson staggering away from a police cordon after being hit with a baton.
Scotland Yard colleagues were shocked by Pc Harwood’s actions at the G20 protests.
Pc Kerry Smith said: “He (Mr Tomlinson) sat up and looked towards us and he said ‘I just wanted to go home’.”
After collapsing on the pavement, Tomlinson muttered “they got me, the f****** got me” moments before he died.
But relatives’ lawyer Matthew Ryder QC said he told “half truths” and “deliberately painted a false picture of Mr Tomlinson”.
The lawyer of Ian Tomlinson’s family, Matthew Ryder QC, said told “half truths” and “deliberately painted a false picture of Mr Tomlinson”.
Prosecutors said last year that a decision not to pursue charges against Pc Harwood could be reviewed in the light of the inquest’s findings that Tomlinson was unlawfully killed.
Watch the police assault of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protest.