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Ian Tomlinson death: New video at G20 protests Ian Tomlinson 'seemed drunk', G20 police officer says
(about 2 hours later)
An inquest jury has seen new videotapes of the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protest in London. A newspaper seller who died at the G20 protest in London appeared "very drunk" shortly before he was pushed to the ground, an ex-police officer has said.
His family were among those in the court as a compilation of CCTV, helicopter footage and amateur recordings was shown. Ian Tomlinson "was staring vacantly towards the demonstration" and his breath smelled of "intoxicants", Andrew Brown, a former City of London officer, told the inquest into his death.
It captures the newspaper seller as he was shoved to the ground by an officer policing the demonstration. But Barry Smith, a colleague of Mr Tomlinson, insisted he was not drunk.
One of his family left the courtroom as the images showed how he staggered some yards before falling. The jury also saw new footage of the moment the 47-year-old died.
Sitting among the spectators in the court was Mr Tomlinson's widow, Julia. "Throughout the day there had been a lot of people who had been very angry towards the police," Mr Brown said.
She was seen to wipe tears from her eyes as footage from two hand-held cameras showed the 47-year-old being forced to the ground by the officer. "But he just appeared to be oblivious to the fact that the riot was taking place."
Wearing a Millwall FC T-shirt, Mr Tomlinson appears to gesture to police after getting up.
Then he is seen walking unsteadily before collapsing.
Surveying their maps, chatting quietly in twos and threes and pointing out landmarks to each other, they probably looked like a small tour group to workers hurrying by on Tuesday morning.Surveying their maps, chatting quietly in twos and threes and pointing out landmarks to each other, they probably looked like a small tour group to workers hurrying by on Tuesday morning.
But this was not a relaxed stroll around London's financial district by tourists, and there was no talkative tour guide.But this was not a relaxed stroll around London's financial district by tourists, and there was no talkative tour guide.
The final steps taken by Ian Tomlinson almost exactly two years ago were being retraced by the jurors for the inquest into his death.The final steps taken by Ian Tomlinson almost exactly two years ago were being retraced by the jurors for the inquest into his death.
The six men and five women, as well as lawyers for various people involved in the case, were led by the stern figure of Judge Peter Thornton QC.The six men and five women, as well as lawyers for various people involved in the case, were led by the stern figure of Judge Peter Thornton QC.
The jurors are now acquainted with footage of the events of 1 April 2009, and the locations involved, but, as Judge Thornton admitted, when and where Ian Tomlinson died are not in doubt.The jurors are now acquainted with footage of the events of 1 April 2009, and the locations involved, but, as Judge Thornton admitted, when and where Ian Tomlinson died are not in doubt.
The challenge facing the jury over the next five to six weeks is to try to decide how he died.The challenge facing the jury over the next five to six weeks is to try to decide how he died.
"That is unlikely to be so straightforward," Judge Thornton told them."That is unlikely to be so straightforward," Judge Thornton told them.
More new imagery then showed him being attended to by officers and paramedics as he died in the road near a Starbucks cafe on 1 April 2009. Mr Brown said Mr Tomlinson "wasn't directing any anger towards me".
However Mr Smith, another newspaper seller, insisted Mr Tomlinson had not been drunk when he left to go home on the evening of 1 April 2009.
"I wouldn't have him sitting there drunk," he told the hearing.
"Even if he had a drink he was polite - a very polite man.
"He was a good man and I miss him."
Mr Smith also said he did not stand by a previous statement he made which said he "could tell Ian had had a few drinks, maybe more than normal" and described Mr Tomlinson as being "slightly unsteady on his feet".
Mr Tomlinson's family were among those in the court as a compilation of CCTV, helicopter footage and amateur recordings was shown.
The video captured the newspaper seller as he was shoved to the ground by an officer policing the demonstration.
One of his family left the courtroom as the images showed how he staggered some yards before falling.
Mr Tomlinson's widow, Julia, wiped away tears as footage from two hand-held cameras showed him being forced to the ground by the officer.
Wearing a Millwall FC T-shirt, Mr Tomlinson appeared to gesture to police after getting up.
Then he was seen walking unsteadily before collapsing.
More new imagery then showed him being attended to by officers and paramedics as he died in the road near a Starbucks cafe.
'Loved each other'
After watching the footage the jury was taken by bus for a five-minute tour of the area where he died.After watching the footage the jury was taken by bus for a five-minute tour of the area where he died.
The coroner told the jurors earlier that there had been a lot of people in the street because of the demonstration.The coroner told the jurors earlier that there had been a lot of people in the street because of the demonstration.
But he added: "Ian Tomlinson was not a protestor, he was selling newspapers - the Evening Standard - in Fish Street." But he added: "Ian Tomlinson was not a protester, he was selling newspapers - the Evening Standard - in Fish Street."
Pc Simon Harwood will face a charge of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing that could see him dismissed by Scotland Yard, but this will not take place until the inquest has ended. Pc Simon Harwood will face a charge of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing that could see him dismissed by Scotland Yard but this will not take place until the inquest has ended.
The jury, which is sitting at the international dispute resolution centre in Fleet Street, was told the inquest will examine the actions of police, the pathologist and independent investigators.
The court also heard that prosecutors may review the decision not to charge officers over Mr Tomlinson's death.
Judge Peter Thornton QC, who is sitting as assistant deputy coroner, said the cause of his death "was likely to be a controversial area".
Mr Tomlinson's widow Julia broke down several times as she read a statement to the hearing.Mr Tomlinson's widow Julia broke down several times as she read a statement to the hearing.
'Brilliant dad' She said her husband had long spells away from the family home due to drinking problems, but "we loved each other, and neither of us wanted to separate or remarry".
Alison Hewitt, counsel to the inquest, offered to read the statement on Mrs Tomlinson's behalf but she insisted on continuing herself. "I still wear my wedding rings today and I never take them off," she added.
Mr Tomlinson had had long spells away from the family home due to drinking problems, but Mrs Tomlinson said: "Although we spent time apart we loved each other, and neither of us wanted to separate or remarried.
"I still wear my wedding rings today and I never take them off."
The couple had their first of four children together - Sam - in 1990, and married in 1991.The couple had their first of four children together - Sam - in 1990, and married in 1991.
'Brilliant dad'
Mrs Tomlinson said: "I think he started turning to alcohol for relief after the time I got pregnant with Sam. I felt this was partly because of the pressure of his difficult upbringing and the family responsibilities he had taken on.Mrs Tomlinson said: "I think he started turning to alcohol for relief after the time I got pregnant with Sam. I felt this was partly because of the pressure of his difficult upbringing and the family responsibilities he had taken on.
"For the first time in our relationship he started to disappear for short periods.""For the first time in our relationship he started to disappear for short periods."
She added: "I would often go and find him and he would come back home."She added: "I would often go and find him and he would come back home."
The absences grew longer over the years, and Mrs Tomlinson said: "The last time we saw him at the family home was around November 2008.The absences grew longer over the years, and Mrs Tomlinson said: "The last time we saw him at the family home was around November 2008.
"He was always welcomed back at the house by the children and by myself.""He was always welcomed back at the house by the children and by myself."
She described her late husband as a "brilliant dad", adding: "I must say we do miss him very much. He was a great part of our life."She described her late husband as a "brilliant dad", adding: "I must say we do miss him very much. He was a great part of our life."
The jury, which is sitting at the international dispute resolution centre in Fleet Street, was told the inquest will examine the actions of police, the pathologist and independent investigators.
The court also heard prosecutors may review the decision not to charge officers over Mr Tomlinson's death.
Judge Peter Thornton QC, who is sitting as assistant deputy coroner, said the cause of his death "was likely to be a controversial area".
The inquest continues.