Ian Tomlinson

[BEANO]

After 16 months, the CPS have decided they will not be bringing any charges against the pig who caused the death of Ian Tomlinson.

There is overwhelming evidence that the pig attacked and pushed him from behind.

There were 3 post-mortems, 2 deciding that death was due to internal bleeding.

The prat who did the first pm is facing 26 charges of complaints and has no credability whatsoever.

If it had been anyone else other than a policeman, I have no doubt charges would have been brought.

I hope the family find a way of getting justice.

[Steve]

It is such an odd case!
I like to think that I have faith in our police, but find it hard to see any evidence in their favour on this one.

Problem is that no MP is likely to raise this for query. Con-Dem government won't want to dirty their hands, nor will Labour as it happened on their watch!
Where's the Greens when you need them?

[Stanley Leisure]

It is such an odd case!
I like to think that I have faith in our police, but find it hard to see any evidence in their favour on this one.

Problem is that no MP is likely to raise this for query. Con-Dem government won't want to dirty their hands, nor will Labour as it happened on their watch!
Where's the Greens when you need them?

It's not odd, it's clearly a whitewash.

The best thing was that they can't even push for an assault charge as the law states you have to file one within six months of the incident.

It's one of the most obvious cases of a bent investigation I've ever seen.

[Alex]

Without defending what the police officer did, wouldn't this have gone to court and a jury decided the outcome?
They'll know as much as you, me and everyone else knows, plus alot more information. So how could the investigation be bent?

[Alex]

Without defending what the police officer did, wouldn't this have gone to court and a jury decided the outcome?
They'll know as much as you, me and everyone else knows, plus alot more information. So how could the investigation be bent?

I've read it again, and there are no charges, therefore not going to court?
Nevermind, I'll read properly next time.

[Peter]

It did look to me that Ian Tomlinson was assaulted by a policeman, and at the least should have been charged with assault.

I would add that I have always found the police acted reasonably, and do have some experience of both demonstrations and Picket lines. There have been several notable occasions when they have not, during the Miners' strike [when some of the police did not have numbers on their jackets] and several other occasions.

At the very least, the offender should be dismissed the force.

[Rafe Wrench]

I think the problem is not so much a whitewash, but the fact that the incompetence of the first pathologist made it very unlikely that a court would convict the accused on a charge of manslaughter unless it could be proved beyond doubt that the assault by the copper caused the man's death. Yes he was certainly assaulted but, as has been said, and for reasons which are beyond me, there is a 6 month deadline for common assault charges to be brought. Once there was conflicting medical evidence on the existence of a causal link between the assault and the death, I suspect a judge would have probably felt compelled to direct the jury to acquit as soon as the matter came to court.

A report on the radio said that no policeman in this country has been convicted of manslaughter in the last 40 years, despite hundreds of fatalities resulting from injuries caused by their officers. So either they really are beyond reproach, or Tomlinson will follow Blair Peach, de Menezes and no doubt many others who just died from hard luck. The Met (ie you and me) will no doubt cough up big time yet again in due course, and more lessons will be learnt.

The coward who struck a man with his hands in his pockets from behind is beneath contempt, but for some policemen I fear this is routine behaviour. The Met then compound it by making up some rubbish about protesters obstructing the medics, much the same way as they claimed to have shouted a warning to a 'fleeing' Menezes, which a dozen officers heard but not a single member of the public. I wouldn't trust any of them personally.

[RB]

After 16 months, the CPS have decided they will not be bringing any charges against the pig who caused the death of Ian Tomlinson.

There is overwhelming evidence that the pig attacked and pushed him from behind.

There were 3 post-mortems, 2 deciding that death was due to internal bleeding.

The prat who did the first pm is facing 26 charges of complaints and has no credability whatsoever.

If it had been anyone else other than a policeman, I have no doubt charges would have been brought.

I hope the family find a way of getting justice.

Their is absolutely no justification for this investigation to take 16 months and no justification for the incompetence of the CPS in taking 16 months barring a prosecution for assault.
The reason the CPS gave for not going ahead with a prosecution was conflictimng medical evidence - at least after 16 months and 3 post mortems the medical establishment should be able to agree what the poor man died of.

[Coulton]

Ian Tomlinson used to sell the Evening Standard near my old office - my colleagues used to banter with him about the football.  He was a bit of a "rough diamond" but basically harmless.

What has happened here is an absoulute travesty.  An act of unjustified thuggery can't be condoned simply because the perpetrator was in a police uniform, but this is precisely what the Met Police and the CPS have done.  It is instances such as this which completely undermine confidence in the British justice system and the Met.  Shame on everyone involved in this diabolical decision.

[reg warner]

There's a fairly lengthy report on the CPS website which explains why the CPS decided not to prosecute.  It's a sad case but I think the CPS have looked at this from all angles.  As there is a conflict in the medical evidence they would not be able to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.  Hopefully there may be some legal action Mr Tomlinson's relatives can take in the civil courts.

http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/articles/the_death_of_ian_tomlinson_decision_on_prosecution/

[BARRIE FOR PRESIDE]

It's not odd, it's clearly a whitewash.The best thing was that they can't even push for an assault charge as the law states you have to file one within six months of the incident.
It's one of the most obvious cases of a bent investigation I've ever seen.

Have you been at the glue? the INDEPENDENT POLICE COMPLAINTS COMISSION investigated it!
Now i'm not a scientist but this speaks for itself