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| Officer faces G20 assault charge | Officer faces G20 assault charge |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service says there is sufficient evidence to charge a police officer with the assault of a protester during London's G20 protests. | The Crown Prosecution Service says there is sufficient evidence to charge a police officer with the assault of a protester during London's G20 protests. |
| Demonstrators posted Youtube footage of a police officer appearing to strike Brighton woman Nicola Fisher. | |
| Ms Fisher, 35, was one of two women to complain about the conduct of the Sgt Delroy (Tony) Smellie. | Ms Fisher, 35, was one of two women to complain about the conduct of the Sgt Delroy (Tony) Smellie. |
| Prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to charge the officer in relation to the second complaint. | Prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to charge the officer in relation to the second complaint. |
| In a statement, a CPS spokesman said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that there is sufficient evidence to charge Police Sergeant Delroy (Tony) Smellie with the offence of assault by beating of Nicola Fisher on 2 April 2009 at a demonstration in the City of London. | |
| "The CPS reviewed a file of evidence provided by the Independent Police Complaints Commission following their investigation into Ms Fisher's allegation. | |
| "A summons has been served on PS Smellie who will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on 16 November 2009." | |
| The incident happened on the second day of the G20 protests. | |
| Newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson had died during the previous evening's demonstrations. | |
| Ms Fisher was among a large crowd who attended a vigil for Mr Tomlinson. | |
| The mobile phone footage of the protest shows a number of demonstrators close to police officers. Ms Fisher seems to be struck by the back of a police officer's hand. | |
| When she approaches him a second time, he appears to hit her legs with a baton. | |
| Sgt Smellie was suspended following Ms Fisher's complaint to the police watchdog. He is the first officer to face a charge in relation to the G20 protests. | |
| A separate investigation is continuing into Mr Tomlinson's death - but prosecutors are not expected to take any decision on the case for some time. |