(G20 protests) Police officer who struck Ian Tomlinson could face manslaughter trial

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Source: The Guardian

Britain's most senior prosecutor has said he was considering whether to prosecute the police officer who attacked Ian Tomlinson for manslaughter after an inquest jury found that the newspaper seller had been unlawfully killed.

Tomlinson, 47, had been trying to walk home from work through the G20 demonstrations near the Bank of England when he was attacked from behind by a Metropolitan police constable, Simon Harwood, a member of the Met's Territorial Support Group (TSG).

Returning their verdict after three hours of deliberation on Tuesday, jurors said Tomlinson died of internal bleeding in the abdomen after being struck with a baton and pushed to the ground with "excessive and unreasonable" force on 7.20pm on 1 April 2009.

Within minutes of the verdict being announced, the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, said a "thorough review" of his earlier decision not to bring criminal prosecutions against Harwood had begun.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/04/ian-tomlinson-verdict-inquest-police

[Downwinder]

1. Perhaps now we will find out if it is a bad apple or a systemic rot.