What was he doing wrong???

[Rich]

Just seen this video again on the news, it looks savage there was totally no need to do this. He was posing no threat at all with his hands in his pockets, surely the most sensible thing for the police too do was walk around him or move him on not shove him to the ground like he had a knife in his hands threatening them.

As for the police officer I don't have any simperthy for him, he didn't do his job properly at all and the end result killed some poor chap. Now if i'd have fitted a gas fire incorrectly and have caused a death, i'd be hung drawn and quatered. His job is to enforce the law and protect the public he did neither and should be punished accordingly.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by speedplay

The police are a law unto themselves.
Nothing will come of it.
It will be "looked into" by other police or ex police officers who will find "nothing to pursue".
I have first hand experience on this as my accident was caused by a ploice officer last year.
I was forced off the road and the driver didnt even stop.
CCTV was "pointing the other direction" and witnesses were there saying that the officer was in the wrong.
Still "nothing to pursue".
I know there are coppers on here and really sorry if it offends you but the police really are above the law when it comes to them being in the wrong.

Just so you know, this is already in the hands of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, not run by the police although I am sure they wil be running their own investigation. This incident will not be brushed under the carpet. It is in the media now and there has been a massive outcry for justice so that will not be ignored. Remember the death of David Kelly.......massive public outcry = independent investigation and heads rolled in that case regardless of the fact that it was government officials that were being investigated.

That is what will happen here. Just a shame it takes the media to get so heavily involved in order for something to be done.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by cuffy

Who's to say he wasn't giving them verbals?
Not condoning the coppers actions, but body language shouldn't be taken into account.
I knew of a bloke who was involved in a skirmish, knowing full well it was on CCTV, so he put his hands out in front of him in a passifying type of manner, but proceeded to mouth off that he was gonna beat the ****e out of the on coming persons, which he proceeded to do, it went to court, CCTV looked at and the jury said that he acted in self defence, all because of his body language.

But they were still coming towards him which is a pretty damn good defense, and still basically legal grounds for self defense. Doesn't matter what you say, it doesn't warrant violence.

Also personS... so he was acting against multiple aggressors, so fair play to him! If someone needs that little incentive to give you grounds for self defense then so be it...

OTOH would you be nervous if I pointed a rifle at your head while saying "alright mate how's it going"? How important is body language there...

Another example of Police doing whatever the hell they like, if any civvy had carried out such a cowardly attack they would be reported for serious assault never mind the fact the bloke died.

Its totally unacceptable and there is no way they can justify what was done.

There are some good coppers (think i've met two) but also some real nasty scum that if it weren't for their badges would just be criminals.

The copper that did this is totally in wrong. The victim even had his hands in his pockets! They weren't trying to arrest him.

Well thats clearly manslaughter. The camera didnt catch it all, but the man clearly didnt pose a threat to the police officers, and was walking away from them.
The fact that he had an enexpected heard attack does not legally lessen the punishment, quite rightly.

[jamesterror]

Originally Posted by Magnum

Well thats clearly manslaughter. The camera didnt catch it all, but the man clearly didnt pose a threat to the police officers, and was walking away from them.
The fact that he had an enexpected heard attack does not legally lessen the punishment, quite rightly.

I'm split between saying it is manslaughter and not, for the following reason however much I do disagree with the uncertainty in the law and the way the officer acted, see previous post.

Firstly you do not hear any commentary, the officer(s) could have asked the man to remove his hands from his pockets, he may have failed to comply, they could of thought he was posing a threat - if I remember right if there is "reasonable grounds" or "suspect" - possibly carrying something which would cause harm.

Effectively, the intent to get the citizen to the ground forces his hands out of his pockets to take some of the fall (although I would contradict myself now and said the officer wouldn't have been trained like that?)

[anna]

I dont know enough to be able to say with any certainty however, I dont belive manslaughter would be on the cards.

Whether the policeman involved is found to be disciplined with regards to his actions or not, the fact that the gentleman involved had a heart attack was obviously not the intention of the police officer involved.

It might have been a considerable contributary factor of what had happened however, and I am playing devils advocate here if he had been left alone would he have suffered a heart attack? I dont know that it could be said with any certainty that he would not.

[skeetly]

I'd say it was manslaughter as I reckon he didn't mean to kill or hurt him badly.
The cop might have been really stressed by the situation but he gets paid for that by us lot.
He ought to go on trial for manslaughter. If convicted then I guess losing his job will be a natural part of the process? You can't be a policeman with a criminal record, can you?

Eh?

So what - lamp everyone just incase? Surely if they were worried he might pull an Knife/Uzi/Table leg from his pocket they might have actually SEARCHED him for one?