Bring police to justice: G20 widow

12 April 2012

The widow of Ian Tomlinson has called on prosecutors to let a jury decide whether a police officer played any role in his death.

Julia Tomlinson spoke out after a file of evidence about his death during the G20 demonstrations was passed to prosecutors.

The 47-year-old newspaper seller died after being struck with a baton and pushed to the ground during angry clashes between G20 protesters and police.

The alleged attack, which was caught on camera by a visitor to London, is at the centre of a storm of criticism about how the demonstrations were policed.

Solicitors at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will now consider whether the officer, a member of the force's Territorial Support Group, should be charged with manslaughter.

The final decision, which will balance whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction and whether the case is in the public interest, is likely to involve director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer.

Mrs Tomlinson, who lives on the Isle of Dogs in east London, said a post-mortem examination found her husband died from internal bleeding.

She said: "Video footage made it clear to us, and everyone else, that Ian was the victim of an unprovoked assault by a police officer.

"If there is going to be any justice then it must be left for a jury to decide if the police officer is guilty of killing Ian.

"I hope the CPS will get the case in front of a jury as soon as possible. We would like to thank everyone who came forward as witnesses."

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