'Thug act' killed Ian Tomlinson, 47 - The Sun

PC Simon Harwood allegedly smashed newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson with his baton and shoved him to the ground in a "gratuitous act of aggression".

Mr Tomlinson, 47, was facing away from Harwood during the 2009 demo in central London and would have been taken "completely by surprise", Southwark Crown Court heard. He collapsed nearby and died in hospital an hour later.

Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said: "Ian Tomlinson was not posing any threat. There was no need to use any force, let alone a forceful baton strike followed by a powerful push that sent him flying. The display of force has all the hallmarks of a gratuitous act of aggression by a lone officer whose blood was up. It was unnecessary aggression, more thuggish behaviour than proper policing."

A pathologist initially claimed Mr Tomlinson died of a heart attack, but questions were raised after a banker came forward with video of the incident. Further investigations found he died as a result of internal bleeding.

The court heard Mr Tomlinson, a heavy drinker, had been boozing and was "oblivious" to his surroundings.

Harwood had just tried to arrest a protester who scrawled graffiti on a police van, but was "embarrassed if not humiliated" when the vandal got away to cheers from his pals.

Harwood, 45, of Carshalton, Surrey, denies manslaughter, claiming he used reasonable force. The trial continues.

c.pollard@the-sun.co.uk