Wednesday 25 May 2011

PC Simon Harwood charged with manslaughter

The BBC are reporting that PC Simon Harwood has been charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of Ian Tomlinson. See Pc to be prosecuted for death of Ian Tomlinson.

The announcement that PC Harwood has been charged comes about 3 weeks after an inquest jury returned a verdict of "unlawful killing". Contrary to the report of the inquest verdict on the BBC site, Ian Tomlinson unlawfully killed by Pc at G20 protests there was no element of the inquest jury saying that a particular person committed the unlawful killing. Inquest juries are not allowed to personalise blame in such a way.

There is some interesting discussion in the Independent blogs. Jody McIntyre posted this: Charging PC Simon Harwood should serve as a rule, not an exception.