Tomlinson inquest: PC Harwood evidence ‘absurd’
Lawyers have challenged evidence provided by PC Harwood about Ian Tomlinson’s death, saying claims that Mr Tomlinson was “almost inviting” confrontation were absurd. Simon Israel reports.
In the third day of evidence into the inquest of Ian Tomlinson‘s death at the G20 protests in 2009, PC Simon Harwood defended claims over Mr Tomlinson’s behaviour before he struck him.
The officer repeatedly told the inquest he believed Mr Tomlinson was “encroaching” a police line. Under intense cross-examination by Matthew Ryder QC, acting for Mr Tomlinson’s family, he maintained that Mr Tomlinson did not have his back to him when he pushed him.
Mr Ryder said it was “rubbish” to claim Mr Tomlinson was not walking away, and said that PC Harwood’s assertions he saw Mr Tomlinson “walking into a police line” were “absurd”.
Mr Ryder asked PC Harwood: “When you pushed him, did he have his back to you?”
Interactive map
View an interactive map documenting Ian Tomlinson's last moments at the 2009 G20 protests in London, where he collapsed and died shortly after being struck and pushed to the floor by a police officer.
Ian Tomlinson: timeline map
The officer answered “no”, to which Mr Ryder said: “You are lying, PC Harwood, I suggest.”
Mr Ryder quoted from an earlier statement PC Harwood made, in which he said Ian Tomlinson “just looked as if he was going to stay where he was, whatever happened, and was almost inviting physical confrontation in terms of being moved on.”
Despite repeatedly being shown video clips of the incident, PC Harwood insisted that was his belief.
At times, PC Harwood appeared confused about which powers he had been using when he struck and pushed Mr Tomlinson. At one stage, he suggested he felt Mr Tomlinson constituted a breach of the peace.
Questioned by his own barrister, PC Harwood said he hadn’t intended Ian Tomlinson to fall over when he pushed him, or to hurt him. But he maintained his position in an earlier statement, in which he said he believed his actions were “justifiable”.
Towards the end of his evidence, under questioning from the coroner, the officer accepted – having seen the video footage – that Mr Tomlinson was walking away from police lines and not encroaching them, and that Mr Tomlinson did have his back to him when he was pushed.
The Territorial Support Group officer has already apologised to family members for “any way” he may be responsible for Ian Tomlinson’s death.
The inquest into Ian Tomlinson’s death, which is taking place in the City of London, is expected to last around six weeks.