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| Dalian Atkinson: PC Benjamin Monk Tasered ex-footballer for 30 seconds | Dalian Atkinson: PC Benjamin Monk Tasered ex-footballer for 30 seconds |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson died in 2016 in Telford, Shropshire, at the age of 48 | Former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson died in 2016 in Telford, Shropshire, at the age of 48 |
| A murder-accused PC Tasered an ex-footballer for six times longer than is standard before kicking him twice in the head, a court heard. | A murder-accused PC Tasered an ex-footballer for six times longer than is standard before kicking him twice in the head, a court heard. |
| PC Benjamin Monk is charged with the murder of Dalian Atkinson during an altercation in Shropshire, in 2016. | PC Benjamin Monk is charged with the murder of Dalian Atkinson during an altercation in Shropshire, in 2016. |
| He appeared at Birmingham Crown Court for the first day of his trial with co-accused PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, who is charged with assault. | He appeared at Birmingham Crown Court for the first day of his trial with co-accused PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, who is charged with assault. |
| The former Aston Villa star died after he was Tasered for 33 seconds. | The former Aston Villa star died after he was Tasered for 33 seconds. |
| PC Benjamin Monk deployed a Taser at Mr Atkinson three times and on the third used it for more than 30 seconds | PC Benjamin Monk deployed a Taser at Mr Atkinson three times and on the third used it for more than 30 seconds |
| Prosecutors said the default setting for a Taser is five seconds but Mr Monk continued to press the trigger, overriding the system for 33 seconds. | Prosecutors said the default setting for a Taser is five seconds but Mr Monk continued to press the trigger, overriding the system for 33 seconds. |
| Mr Monk and Ms Bettley-Smith, officers with West Mercia Police, arrived at Mr Atkinson's father's house on Meadow Close, Telford, shortly before 01:30 BST on 15 August after neighbours had reported Mr Atkinson acting strangely and shouting in the street. | Mr Monk and Ms Bettley-Smith, officers with West Mercia Police, arrived at Mr Atkinson's father's house on Meadow Close, Telford, shortly before 01:30 BST on 15 August after neighbours had reported Mr Atkinson acting strangely and shouting in the street. |
| The fast life of Dalian Atkinson | |
| Latest news and updates from the West Midlands | Latest news and updates from the West Midlands |
| The court heard Mr Monk Tasered Mr Atkinson, who had serious health problems, three times after he came to the door acting erratically and claiming to be the Messiah. | The court heard Mr Monk Tasered Mr Atkinson, who had serious health problems, three times after he came to the door acting erratically and claiming to be the Messiah. |
| The first two attempts were ineffective but on the third Mr Atkinson fell to the ground. | The first two attempts were ineffective but on the third Mr Atkinson fell to the ground. |
| While he was unresponsive, the court heard the police officers "set about him". | While he was unresponsive, the court heard the police officers "set about him". |
| Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith allegedly struck Mr Atkinson with a baton while he was incapacitated by the Taser | Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith allegedly struck Mr Atkinson with a baton while he was incapacitated by the Taser |
| Mr Monk kicked him in the head with such force imprints of his boot laces were left in two locations on Mr Atkinson's forehead while Ms Bettley-Smith used her baton to strike him "a number of times" while he lay still in the road, the court was told. | Mr Monk kicked him in the head with such force imprints of his boot laces were left in two locations on Mr Atkinson's forehead while Ms Bettley-Smith used her baton to strike him "a number of times" while he lay still in the road, the court was told. |
| Both officers deny wrongdoing. However, it is the prosecution's case that their use of force was excessive and sustained while Mr Atkinson posed no threat. | Both officers deny wrongdoing. However, it is the prosecution's case that their use of force was excessive and sustained while Mr Atkinson posed no threat. |
| Alexandra Healy QC said Mr Monk was not acting in self-defence but was "angry" to have been "put in fear by this man". | |
| "He chose to take that anger out on Dalian Atkinson by kicking him in the head," she said. | |
| Ms Bettley-Smith too, she said, "was not acting in self defence or in defence of her colleague but also taking out her anger on a man who had earlier put her in fear, with the weapon she had been entrusted with to use lawfully". | |
| Ms Healy said the officers were "entitled to use reasonable force to protect themselves" and their conduct prior to the discharge of the third Taser cartridge was not criticised. | |
| Mr Atkinson, who had a long sporting career at a number of clubs, including Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Manchester City, died in hospital at about 02:45 that morning. | |
| He had been suffering with high blood pressure, heart disease and end-stage renal failure. | He had been suffering with high blood pressure, heart disease and end-stage renal failure. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |