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| Pc to be prosecuted for death of Ian Tomlinson | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A police officer is to be charged with manslaughter over the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson during the 2009 G20 protests. | A police officer is to be charged with manslaughter over the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson during the 2009 G20 protests. |
| The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, said there was now a "realistic prospect" of convicting Pc Simon Harwood. | The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, said there was now a "realistic prospect" of convicting Pc Simon Harwood. |
| An inquest earlier this month returned a verdict of unlawful death on the 47-year-old. | An inquest earlier this month returned a verdict of unlawful death on the 47-year-old. |
| Mr Tomlinson's family said they were "more than happy" about the decision. | Mr Tomlinson's family said they were "more than happy" about the decision. |
| The officer is due to appear before magistrates on 20 June. | The officer is due to appear before magistrates on 20 June. |
| The inquest heard Mr Tomlinson collapsed and died after he was hit by a baton and pushed to the ground by Pc Simon Harwood in central London on 1 April 2009. | The inquest heard Mr Tomlinson collapsed and died after he was hit by a baton and pushed to the ground by Pc Simon Harwood in central London on 1 April 2009. |
| 'Conflicting medical evidence' | 'Conflicting medical evidence' |
| The officer said after the inquest he had not intended to push him over. | The officer said after the inquest he had not intended to push him over. |
| Mr Starmer said: "The difficulty facing any prosecution in relation to the death of Mr Tomlinson lies in the conflicting medical evidence about the cause of death. That difficulty remains." | Mr Starmer said: "The difficulty facing any prosecution in relation to the death of Mr Tomlinson lies in the conflicting medical evidence about the cause of death. That difficulty remains." |
| But he said new medical evidence had been presented at the inquest, and the medical opinion of pathologist Freddy Patel had been tested in extensive questioning at the inquest. | But he said new medical evidence had been presented at the inquest, and the medical opinion of pathologist Freddy Patel had been tested in extensive questioning at the inquest. |
| He said this had allowed "a degree of clarity to emerge". | He said this had allowed "a degree of clarity to emerge". |
| Mr Starmer said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had taken the legal opinion of a senior barrister, Tim Owen, QC. | Mr Starmer said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had taken the legal opinion of a senior barrister, Tim Owen, QC. |
| He said: "Taking the evidence as it now stands, we have concluded that, even with those remaining difficulties, there is now sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of successfully prosecuting PC Simon Harwood for the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson." | He said: "Taking the evidence as it now stands, we have concluded that, even with those remaining difficulties, there is now sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of successfully prosecuting PC Simon Harwood for the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson." |
| Mr Tomlinson's stepson, Paul King, made a statement on behalf of the family: "We welcome today's decision to bring a charge of manslaughter against the officer. | |
| "We believe this is the right decision. What we have always wanted is to achieve justice for Ian and to show that police officers are not above the law." |