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G20 inquest: Pc pushed Ian Tomlinson 'to move him away' | G20 inquest: Pc pushed Ian Tomlinson 'to move him away' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Pc who pushed Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests in London did so after a strike on the thigh had failed to move the newspaper seller away from the police line, an inquest has heard. | |
Pc Simon Harwood told the hearing he had been "amazed" Mr Tomlinson fell forward after the "poor push". | |
The 47-year-old collapsed and died moments later, on 1 April 2009. | |
Earlier, Pc Harwood said he had palmed off protesters and pushed a cameraman as confrontations "got out of hand". | Earlier, Pc Harwood said he had palmed off protesters and pushed a cameraman as confrontations "got out of hand". |
'Ignoring officers' requests' | 'Ignoring officers' requests' |
Pc Harwood, part of the Metropolitan Police's specialist Territorial Support Group (TSG), was caught on film pushing Mr Tomlinson to the ground in Cornhill, central London. | |
He said he had first seen Mr Tomlinson talking to two police-dog handlers and an officer near a bike shed on the Royal Exchange. | He said he had first seen Mr Tomlinson talking to two police-dog handlers and an officer near a bike shed on the Royal Exchange. |
He said he saw a police dog bite Mr Tomlinson on the ankle. | |
"I then remember Mr Tomlinson moving in front of me from my right to my left as though he was walking or encroaching into the police line," he said. | "I then remember Mr Tomlinson moving in front of me from my right to my left as though he was walking or encroaching into the police line," he said. |
Pc Harwood said he struck Mr Tomlinson because, although he was not a threat, he was ignoring other officers' requests for him to move. | |
Describing the moments he hit the father-of-nine, the officer said: "I struck the upper part of his leg with my baton. I didn't get a reaction so I pushed him with the right palm of my hand to the top right of his shoulder. | Describing the moments he hit the father-of-nine, the officer said: "I struck the upper part of his leg with my baton. I didn't get a reaction so I pushed him with the right palm of my hand to the top right of his shoulder. |
"Once I pushed him, he fell forward. I was amazed that he fell forward. I looked for other threats, then I moved back behind the police dogs." | "Once I pushed him, he fell forward. I was amazed that he fell forward. I looked for other threats, then I moved back behind the police dogs." |
Pc Harwood said he had used forced "initially as an encouragement to make him move away". | Pc Harwood said he had used forced "initially as an encouragement to make him move away". |
"I hit him in the thigh because usually that's where you get less harm but the maximum reaction. It really encourages people to move away." | "I hit him in the thigh because usually that's where you get less harm but the maximum reaction. It really encourages people to move away." |
He then said he had pushed Mr Tomlinson because he had got no reaction to hitting him in the thigh with the baton "and I needed him to move away from the police line". | He then said he had pushed Mr Tomlinson because he had got no reaction to hitting him in the thigh with the baton "and I needed him to move away from the police line". |
Mr Tomlinson, who was not a protester and had been selling newspapers in Fish Street, was on his way home when he encountered the 1 April protests. | Mr Tomlinson, who was not a protester and had been selling newspapers in Fish Street, was on his way home when he encountered the 1 April protests. |
The inquest, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, is examining the actions of the police, the pathologist and independent investigators. | The inquest, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, is examining the actions of the police, the pathologist and independent investigators. |
'Clenched fist' | 'Clenched fist' |
Pc Harwood told the court of the moments leading up to Mr Tomlinson's death. | Pc Harwood told the court of the moments leading up to Mr Tomlinson's death. |
He said he had had to "recompose myself" after several confrontations as the demonstrations got "out of hand". | He said he had had to "recompose myself" after several confrontations as the demonstrations got "out of hand". |
He said he had been "frightened and confused" in the tense atmosphere and after being hit on the back by an object and palming off a protester who had approached him with a "clenched fist", he had felt "very" scared. | He said he had been "frightened and confused" in the tense atmosphere and after being hit on the back by an object and palming off a protester who had approached him with a "clenched fist", he had felt "very" scared. |
As video footage was played to a jury of Pc Harwood at the Royal Exchange Buildings, the officer said: "I was frightened and confused, I wondered where I was." | As video footage was played to a jury of Pc Harwood at the Royal Exchange Buildings, the officer said: "I was frightened and confused, I wondered where I was." |
He said he had to find time to recompose himself after realising he had lost his colleagues. | He said he had to find time to recompose himself after realising he had lost his colleagues. |
On Monday, Pc Harwood told how he had been in fear for his life after attracting the attention of a "hostile crowd". | On Monday, Pc Harwood told how he had been in fear for his life after attracting the attention of a "hostile crowd". |
He said protesters had jeered and shouted as he tried to arrest a man on suspicion of criminal damage to one of the police vans. | He said protesters had jeered and shouted as he tried to arrest a man on suspicion of criminal damage to one of the police vans. |
There was a "large gasp" from the crowd as the suspect he had hold of collided with the door of a police van, he said. | There was a "large gasp" from the crowd as the suspect he had hold of collided with the door of a police van, he said. |
Footage showed him leading the man further away from the vans with the crowd surging behind him. | Footage showed him leading the man further away from the vans with the crowd surging behind him. |
"At the time because he was becoming more aggressive, more hostile, I was starting to believe that this was getting out of control. | "At the time because he was becoming more aggressive, more hostile, I was starting to believe that this was getting out of control. |
"I was aware there was a very hostile crowd and I was actually in fear for my life then from what was coming towards me." | "I was aware there was a very hostile crowd and I was actually in fear for my life then from what was coming towards me." |