Ian Tomlinson - why the BBC presenter Chris Eakin must be held to account for blaming the victim

1900 Hrs GMT

London

Tuesday

05 April 2011

Editor © Muhammad Haque

Ian Tomlinson - why the BBC presenter Chris Eakin must be held to account for blaming the victim

As we have been exclusively reporting throughout the past two years, the BBC News Channel presenter Chris Eakin blamed Ian Tomlinson for allegedly causing or contributing to his own death at the G20 demonstration in the City of London two years ago this week. We shall continue the commentary and reports so long as it remains necessary for justice for Ian Tomlinson and his family.
[To be continued]

The following report on today’s inquest proceedings on the Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets resident Ian Tomlinson's death is taken from the web site of the London DAILY TELEGRAPH accessed at 1848 GMT Tuesday 05 April 2011:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wirecopy/8429437/Ian-Tomlinson-was-no-threat-G20-officer-admits.html

Pc Simon Harwood (left) arrives at the inquest into the death of newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests Photo: REUTERS/PA

1:19PM BST 05 Apr 2011

Pc Simon Harwood told an inquest into the newspaper seller's death that he was ''amazed'' his ''poor push'' caused the 47-year-old to plunge to the pavement.

The officer said his actions were meant as ''encouragement'' to get Mr Tomlinson away from police lines during demonstrations.

As a jury reviewed footage of his actions, Pc Harwood said: ''He wasn't moving away from the police line, he was encroaching. That's why I moved forward.''

When asked whether Mr Tomlinson had been assessed as a threat, Pc Harwood replied: "No."

The officer said he first saw Mr Tomlinson talking to two police dog handlers and an officer near a bike shed on the Royal Exchange.

"I then remember Mr Tomlinson moving in front of me from my right to my left as though he was walking or encroaching into the police line," he said.

Pc Harwood said he struck Mr Tomlinson because he was ignoring other officers' requests for him to move.

"I moved forward to engage Mr Tomlinson. I then struck Mr Tomlinson around the upper part of his left leg towards his thigh with my baton.

"I did not get any immediate reaction from Mr Tomlinson... I then, as a reaction, pushed him in the top part of his right shoulder."

He said he was "amazed" the push caused Mr Tomlinson to fall.

Mr Tomlinson had been pushed away from the police line by another officer and was also seen being bitten by a police dog, the officer added.