PC Harwood cleared of manslaughter

[David Johnson]

"Juries often return what seem to those of us not involved, to be perverse decisions, but clearly they decided that the evidence presented and the doubt engendered by Tomlinson's health required a not guilty verdict."

This is a very strange verdict. In 2011, the death of Tomlinson was judged to be an unlawful killing which means that the unlawful action caused the death.

To reach an unlawful killing conclusion, the jury were required to have been satisfied to a higher burden of proof than the other possible verdicts, which could have been reached "on the balance of probabilities". But to reach the unlawful killing verdict, the jury had to be convinced "beyond reasonable doubt", the same threshold used in criminal trials. The jury took little more than 3 hours to reach their verdict.

Involuntary manslaughter arises where the accused did not intend to cause death or serious injury but caused the death of another through recklessness. This seems to summarise the Tomlinson case where Tomlinson was walking away from the police at the time and got attacked in a manner which caused his death.

[jimslip]

Maybe, dare I say it, the jury were hand picked?

[Essex Lad]

I have been summoned for jury service twice and both times managed to get out of it because of what I do for a living. If I get asked a third time, perhaps I should do it because judging by some recent verdicts the calibre of those who do get selected is pretty low.

[dog]

The question still remains "Who killed Ian Tomlinson?"

PC Hardwood has done more than been involved in the death of someone he has caused the police a great problem. How do the police command now instruct their frontline officers on how to deal with protests and riots when members of the public will be refusing to move on, spitting at them, throwing bricks and bottles at them, and even trying to take them out using iron bars and the like! It is no an easy job being on the front line of a hardcore protest, placed there by the nature of your job only sometimes it gets very difficult to be anything other than be aggressive, but it seems this idiot didn't even need to be placed in a difficult situation. And think about the London riots, well, PC Hardwood has caused a great mess for the average copper. IMO

[jimslip]

Dog said,

"PC Hardwood has caused a great mess for the average copper. IMO"

Agreed, I bet they hate him. The guy is an out and out sadistic thug in a uniform.

[Essex Lad]

jimslip wrote:

> Dog said,
>
> "PC Hardwood has caused a great mess for the average copper.
> IMO"
>
> Agreed, I bet they hate him. The guy is an out and out sadistic
> thug in a uniform.
>
>

Well, if they ever bring back Not The Nine O'Clock News I think Constable Savage will now be called PC Harwood (not Hardwood, that makes him sound like a porn star).

[andy at handiwork]

Constable Savage...

[fatmick]

Shocking verdict. Not sureif you have it down there in Englandshire but we have recently abolished the double jeopardy rule whereby you couldn't be tried for the same crime twice.
It does however require "new" evdence to be found which may be a problem in this instance as I think the only other thing which could come out would be if one of his colleagues stitched him up and said he had planned to do it? Hope one of them are reading this and take action.

[jimslip]

Sounds like a real charmer!

[Flat_Eric]

A tad unfair perhaps to judge someone by their looks, but as ever there are exceptions and Simon Harwood has "nasty cunt" written all over him. He has the look of an evil, malevolent bastard. A wrong 'un to the core.

I also wish the Tomlinson family well in their pursuit of justice.

- Eric