PC Simon Harwood has denied killing Ian Tomlinson - Sky News

PC Simon Harwood has denied killing Ian Tomlinson

6:41pm UK, Monday June 18, 2012

Martin Brunt, crime correspondent

A police officer killed an innocent passer-by in a "gratuitous act of aggression" during the G20 protests in London, a jury heard.

PC Simon Harwood hit Ian Tomlinson with his baton and pushed him to the ground as the newspaper seller walked away from him with his hands in his pockets, the court heard.

Minutes earlier the officer had been humiliated and jeered when he tried and failed to arrest a protester writing on a police van.

"The display of force has all the hallmarks of an act of aggression by a lone officer whose blood was up having lost the self-control to be expected of a police officer in such circumstances and who was going to stand no truck from anyone who appeared to him to be a protestor and to be getting in his way," prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said.

"In such circumstances, an unlawful assault that causes the death of another amounts to the offence of manslaughter."

:: Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt followed events in court:

Mr Tomlinson was helped up by others and said he felt unwell as the police officer turned away.

He walked another 70 metres but collapsed and died 45 minutes later in hospital, Mr Dennis told a jurors at Southwark Crown Court.

A post mortem examination showed he died from a heart attack but later autopsies concluded he was killed by an injury to his liver which caused internal bleeding.

The prosecutor said Mr Tomlinson's years of heavy drinking may have made him more vulnerable, but that was no defence for the officer.

PC Harwood, 45, had used unneccessary and unreasonable force against a man who had been threatening nobody and was simply trying to get home through the crowds and police lines.

The officer allegedly sent 47-year-old Tomlinson flying with a "forceful baton strike" and a "powerful push" as he stood with his back to police and his hands in his pockets.

Jurors are to be shown a video, shot by an American tourist, showing the moment the officer struck Mr Tomlinson on the legs and shoved him to the ground, said Mr Dennis.

"He was taken completely by surprise by the two acts of violence and had little, if any, opportunity to protect himself against the effects of such a heavy, uncontrolled fall," he added.

Jurors are expected to hear from the first prosecution witnesses on Tuesday.

PC Harwood, a member of Scotland Yard's territorial support group, denies manslaughter.