Plebgate police officer appears in court

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/16/plebgate-andrew-mitchell-police-officer-court

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A police officer accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the Plebgate row has appeared in court for the first time.

PC Keith Wallis, 53, from west London, is accused of committing misconduct in public office between 19 September and 16 December 2012 by saying he had witnessed the incident and arranging for his nephew to support the claim.

Wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a dark tie, Wallis spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth at a brief hearing at Westminster magistrates court on Monday.

He is facing claims that he sent an email to his MP, the Conservative deputy chief whip John Randall, wrongly claiming that he had seen what happened in Downing Street on last year.

A row erupted when the then chief whip Andrew Mitchell became involved in a heated confrontation with another officer, Toby Rowland, after he was refused permission to cycle through the main gate.

Mitchell admitted swearing but denied Rowland's claim that he used the word "pleb".

Wallis, who is from the Metropolitan police diplomatic protection group, was released on bail and will next appear at Southwark crown court on 3 January.

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