This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/16/judge-jury-sympathy-victim-police-misconduct-trial-bijan-ebrahimi

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Judge tells jury to ignore sympathies for murder victim in police misconduct trial Judge tells jury to ignore sympathies for murder victim in police misconduct trial
(34 minutes later)
A judge has told a jury to put aside any feelings of sympathy they hold both towards a disabled man who was murdered in a vigilante attack and towards police officers who are on trial over the way they dealt with him before he was killed.A judge has told a jury to put aside any feelings of sympathy they hold both towards a disabled man who was murdered in a vigilante attack and towards police officers who are on trial over the way they dealt with him before he was killed.
Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, was punched and kicked to death outside his Bristol home by a neighbour who wrongly believed he was a paedophile and his body was set alight. Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, was punched and kicked to death outside his Bristol home and his body set alight by a neighbour who wrongly believed he was a paedophile.
Three police officers are accused of failing to deal with complaints from Ebrahimi that he was in serious danger because they considered him a troublemaker and a nuisance.Three police officers are accused of failing to deal with complaints from Ebrahimi that he was in serious danger because they considered him a troublemaker and a nuisance.
At the start of his summing up, judge Neil Ford QC told the jurors at Bristol crown court: “A case of this sort may cause feelings of sympathy. You may have sympathy for Mr Ebrahimi and his family, and I am sure you do. You may have sympathy for the defendants – each of them is a person of good character.” At the start of his summing up, Judge Neil Ford QC told jurors at Bristol crown court: “A case of this sort may cause feelings of sympathy. You may have sympathy for Mr Ebrahimi and his family, and I am sure you do. You may have sympathy for the defendants – each of them is a person of good character.”
But he continued: “Emotions must play no part in your deliberations. You must reach your verdict by a dispassionate analysis of the evidence.”But he continued: “Emotions must play no part in your deliberations. You must reach your verdict by a dispassionate analysis of the evidence.”
PC Helen Harris, 40, PC Leanne Winter, 38 and PC Kevin Duffy, 52, all deny one count each of misconduct in a public office. PC Helen Harris, 40, PC Leanne Winter, 38, and PC Kevin Duffy, 52, all deny one count each of misconduct in a public office.
Police community support officer Andrew Passmore, 55, denies two counts of the same charge.Police community support officer Andrew Passmore, 55, denies two counts of the same charge.
The court has been told that two days before he was murdered, Ebrahimi reported that his neighbour, Lee James, 24, had assaulted him. The judge asked the jury to look again at footage of James – captured on Ebrahimi’s phone – that showed the young man bursting into his flat and abusing and threatening his neighbour. The court has heard that two days before he was murdered, Ebrahimi reported that his neighbour, Lee James, 24, had assaulted him. The judge asked the jury to look again at footage of James – captured on Ebrahimi’s phone – that showed the young man bursting into his flat and abusing and threatening his neighbour.
When Winter and Harris visited, James was “foaming at the mouth” and “vigilantism was in the air”, the prosecution has alleged. But Ebrahimi, rather than James, was arrested.When Winter and Harris visited, James was “foaming at the mouth” and “vigilantism was in the air”, the prosecution has alleged. But Ebrahimi, rather than James, was arrested.
After they released Ebrahimi, he returned home and made a string of calls to police asking for help and protection, it is claimed. Duffy, who was beat manager, made it clear he was not going to visit him, the jury has heard.After they released Ebrahimi, he returned home and made a string of calls to police asking for help and protection, it is claimed. Duffy, who was beat manager, made it clear he was not going to visit him, the jury has heard.
The accusation against Duffy is that he failed to visit or make contact with Ebrahimi and refused to speak to him on the phone. Harris and Winter are accused of failing to arrest James or investigate an allegation of assault made against him by Ebrahimi. Winter is also accused of refusing to speak to Ebrahimi on 14 July 2013 – the day he was killed.The accusation against Duffy is that he failed to visit or make contact with Ebrahimi and refused to speak to him on the phone. Harris and Winter are accused of failing to arrest James or investigate an allegation of assault made against him by Ebrahimi. Winter is also accused of refusing to speak to Ebrahimi on 14 July 2013 – the day he was killed.
Passmore is accused of failing to carry out a proper foot patrol of Capgrave Crescent, where Ebrahimi lived, on 12 July, and later claiming that he had done so. Passmore is accused of failing to carry out a proper foot patrol of Capgrave Crescent, where Ebrahimi lived, on 12 July, and later claiming he had done so.
The judge told the jury that to find any of the four guilty they had to be sure he or she had “wilfully” misconducted himself or herself. He said for them to be convicted it was not enough for the defendants to have made mistakes or even have been negligent.The judge told the jury that to find any of the four guilty they had to be sure he or she had “wilfully” misconducted himself or herself. He said for them to be convicted it was not enough for the defendants to have made mistakes or even have been negligent.
The trial continues.The trial continues.