Ian Tomlinson

[Mick-Talbot]

Just came across this video on youtube, I haven't seen it posted on AB before (maybe I just missed it) Apologies if it has.

How did this copper get away with it .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XoIbdLlutPg

[Mick-Talbot]

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XoIbdLlutPg

[jno]

presumably because he has the power to make videos invisible

[Mick-Talbot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XoIbdLlutPg

[anneasquith]

ive seen the video many times as did his family and the jury. and the policeman was found not guilty last week.

[Mick-Talbot]

Doesn't give me much confidence on the police, especially the met.
I don't how I have missed this angle of the assault.

[Booldawg]

the policeman had a string of complaints for heavy handedness over his career. This history of thugism would've not been let known to the jury.

[youngmafbog]

//Doesn't give me much confidence on the police//
Don't you mean the Jury? The Police did not find him Guilty or not guilty, they are not judges.

[ABerrant]

"The Police... are not judges"

Except in their role as employers. This rogue PC should have been judged unfit to serve and kicked out of the police service years ago.

[Mick-Talbot]

I know that but the copper has been on full pay ever since the incident everyone now knows what a thug he is.
I don't think he has been sacked has he?
If not , why not ?

[Baldric]

I think I read that he resigned the day before the verdict

[Mick-Talbot]

I think that was a previous offence, Baldric.

[Baldric]

Think you're right MT, just had a bit of a google, looking at his record I can only ask "which one?"

[andy-hughes]

According to the reports I heard, he was a serving officer with another force and retired on medical grounds as a discipline proceedure was being conducted.

He then rejoined, and was able to transfer to the Met.

The tall questions that need to be answered are - how was he able to rejoin after medical retirement? How was the ongoing discipline case not concluded? How did he manage to transfer to the met without his discipline record and resignation / re-emplolyment being picked up andf acted upon?

The police have handled this very very badly - there should be a full enquiry - not the usual PCC investigating - get a judge on it!

[Gromit]

It was never disputed that he had hit him with a baton. The jury knew he had done so. What was not proved was that it caused his death. Being hit on the legs shouldn't kill you, and the post mortems were botched so there was doubt about what he actually died of.

The behaviour was thuggish, but that is not what he was charged with. He now faces a Police disciplinary enquiry who will look at his thuggishness and probably sack him.

[baza]

reading of his prev record the child of parents unwed will get away with a lump sum and a good pension.

[sir.prize]

Ten allegations had been made against the police officer during his career before his encounter with Mr Tomlinson,

PC Simon Harwood wept in the dock at his trial. Well, well, well – I wonder why.
And now the family of Ian Tomlinson are threatening to take civil action against the Metropolitan Police unless the force admits their responsibility in his death and issue a 'frank apology’.
Here is his ‘fine’ record upholding the peace. Yeah, yeah.
http://www.flickr.com...tishbuses/7614070586/

[andy-hughes]

I would think Mr Harwood's police career is now over.

Even the PCC cannot investigate the police and find them not guilty with the weight of evidence against him.

I do not agree that the jury in his trial should have been aware of his disciplinary record - all trials have to be delivered on the basis of current evidence only - anything else is predjudicial.

But that previous evidence is now out in the public domain, and will be used in the privcate prosecution that the family may bring - so the only right and proper (if belated) action by the met is to dismiss this utter misfit from their ranks.

[sir.prize]

andy - you may well be right about his previous disciplinary record being kept from the jurors. However, it wwould have been easy enough for them to have learned about and be fully aware his 'misdemeanours' by Googling.

Sidetracking - don't previous misdoings become knowledge during a court trial? Surely if an individual has transgressed before (ie previous convictions), everyone in the court is made aware of that.

[jake-the-peg]

The judge has to make a decision as to whether it's relevant.

This was not a charge of murder but manslaughter so there was no issue about intent therefore bad character reference was excluded.

[baza]

sir.p your link says the barsteward has already retired on a full pension before returning as a civilian employee 3 days later, the whole thing stinks of corruption.imo.