This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-13063995
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
G20 inquest: Tomlinson 'five times drink-drive limit' | G20 inquest: Tomlinson 'five times drink-drive limit' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tests found the newspaper seller who died during the London G20 protests in 2009 was five times over the drink-driving limit, an inquest has heard. | Tests found the newspaper seller who died during the London G20 protests in 2009 was five times over the drink-driving limit, an inquest has heard. |
Ian Tomlinson, 47, collapsed shortly after he was pushed to the ground by a Metropolitan Police officer. | Ian Tomlinson, 47, collapsed shortly after he was pushed to the ground by a Metropolitan Police officer. |
Earlier witnesses had told the inquest that he had appeared drunk, though another person denied this. | Earlier witnesses had told the inquest that he had appeared drunk, though another person denied this. |
The jury also heard a pathologist later amended the wording of his post-mortem examination report. | The jury also heard a pathologist later amended the wording of his post-mortem examination report. |
A revised report was made by Dr Freddy Patel, who found the death was due to natural causes, a year later after two other pathologists said the immediate reason for Mr Tomlinson's death was internal bleeding. | A revised report was made by Dr Freddy Patel, who found the death was due to natural causes, a year later after two other pathologists said the immediate reason for Mr Tomlinson's death was internal bleeding. |
But Dr Patel said he did so because "the issue arose on the cause of death and it appeared to me that other experts have misinterpreted what I was trying to convey in my report". | But Dr Patel said he did so because "the issue arose on the cause of death and it appeared to me that other experts have misinterpreted what I was trying to convey in my report". |
The pathologist amended the wording over references to fluids in Mr Tomlinson's abdomen, which he decided was a mixture of blood and a liquid called ascites produced by liver disease. | |
The jury was told the abdominal fluid was thrown away before the other pathologists - Nat Cary and Kenneth Shorrock - disputed Dr Patel's findings. | The jury was told the abdominal fluid was thrown away before the other pathologists - Nat Cary and Kenneth Shorrock - disputed Dr Patel's findings. |
In his initial post-mortem examination on 6 April 2009, Dr Patel had found Mr Tomlinson had coronary artery disease and could have died at any time. | |
Questioned about his changes, Dr Patel told the London inquest: "I was trying to make it quite clear that it wasn't pure blood. It was ascites fluid with some blood in it." | Questioned about his changes, Dr Patel told the London inquest: "I was trying to make it quite clear that it wasn't pure blood. It was ascites fluid with some blood in it." |
He wrote in his first report: "Intra-abdominal fluid blood about 3 litres, small blood clot." | |
Exactly a year later, he revised it to: "Intra-abdominal fluid with blood about 3 litres and small blood clot." | Exactly a year later, he revised it to: "Intra-abdominal fluid with blood about 3 litres and small blood clot." |
The hearing at the International Dispute Resolution Centre has seen video footage of Pc Simon Harwood shoving Mr Tomlinson as walked away from a police line in Cornhill, central London, on 1 April 2009. | The hearing at the International Dispute Resolution Centre has seen video footage of Pc Simon Harwood shoving Mr Tomlinson as walked away from a police line in Cornhill, central London, on 1 April 2009. |
Mr Tomlinson, who was not part of the G20 protest, got back to his feet but collapsed and died minutes later. | Mr Tomlinson, who was not part of the G20 protest, got back to his feet but collapsed and died minutes later. |
'Tramline bruise' | 'Tramline bruise' |
The results of the toxicology tests conducted on samples of blood taken from Mr Tomlinson's body at the post-mortem examination were disclosed during Dr Patel's evidence to the inquest. | |
Dr Patel said the tests found Mr Tomlinson had 400 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit for driving being 80. | |
Dr Patel told the hearing that Mr Tomlinson's alcohol level could be one explanation for why a witnesses said he did not complain of pain after his collapse. | Dr Patel told the hearing that Mr Tomlinson's alcohol level could be one explanation for why a witnesses said he did not complain of pain after his collapse. |
"What is confounding is that he has a very high alcohol level and there is a possibility that might have numbed or dulled his perception of pain," he added. | "What is confounding is that he has a very high alcohol level and there is a possibility that might have numbed or dulled his perception of pain," he added. |
Dr Patel said the levels of alcohol in Mr Tomlinson's blood could have worsened his coronary artery disease. | Dr Patel said the levels of alcohol in Mr Tomlinson's blood could have worsened his coronary artery disease. |
The inquest heard that Dr Patel's second report acknowledged that a large "tramline" bruise on Mr Tomlinson's left leg could have been caused by Pc Harwood but still maintained the evidence did not support the theory he suffered massive internal bleeding. | The inquest heard that Dr Patel's second report acknowledged that a large "tramline" bruise on Mr Tomlinson's left leg could have been caused by Pc Harwood but still maintained the evidence did not support the theory he suffered massive internal bleeding. |
The pathologist said: "There would be a compelling argument that a preceding incident may have contributed to his death, but no matter how compelling it is, it is not an evidence of causation." | The pathologist said: "There would be a compelling argument that a preceding incident may have contributed to his death, but no matter how compelling it is, it is not an evidence of causation." |
The jury was told that Dr Patel has twice been sanctioned by the General Medical Council for failings in his post-mortem examinations in other cases. He was suspended for three months in 2010 and is currently serving a further four-month suspension. | The jury was told that Dr Patel has twice been sanctioned by the General Medical Council for failings in his post-mortem examinations in other cases. He was suspended for three months in 2010 and is currently serving a further four-month suspension. |
The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |