Tears in court over Tomlinson film

Pc Simon Harwood denies the manslaughter of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson on the grounds that he used reasonable force
19 June 2012

Relatives of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson have broken down in court after film footage of his final hours of life was shown.

The 47-year-old's widow Julia and stepson Paul King cried as a film clip was played of a medical student trying to save Mr Tomlinson as he lay on the pavement with his eyes closed.

He collapsed minutes after being hit with a police baton and shoved to the ground by Pc Simon Harwood during the G20 protests in the City of London in April 2009.

Jurors were shown footage of Harwood, 45, adopting a "strike" position with his baton as Mr Tomlinson stood with his back to him.

The footage showed Harwood among a group including dog handlers and officers in riot gear, pushing Mr Tomlinson to the ground.

He was seen wearing a balaclava covering the lower half of his face as well as a riot helmet.

Mr Tomlinson, wearing tracksuit bottoms with a T-shirt over a long-sleeved top, was facing away from the group when he was pushed.

A passer-by helped Mr Tomlinson, 47, back to his feet, and he was then seen walking away.

Southwark Crown Court heard that he walked around 70 metres before collapsing, and died in hospital around an hour later.

Harwood, from Carshalton in Surrey, is accused of manslaughter, which he denies on the grounds that he used reasonable force.

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