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| Ian Tomlinson 'seemed drunk', G20 police officer says | Ian Tomlinson 'seemed drunk', G20 police officer says |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ian Tomlinson smelled of "intoxicants" and "was staring vacantly towards the demonstration", though without showing anger, a former City of London officer told the inquest into his death. | |
| But Barry Smith, a colleague of Mr Tomlinson, insisted he was not drunk. | But Barry Smith, a colleague of Mr Tomlinson, insisted he was not drunk. |
| The jury also saw new footage of the moment the 47-year-old died. | The jury also saw new footage of the moment the 47-year-old died. |
| "Throughout the day there had been a lot of people who had been very angry towards the police," Andrew Brown, the former police officer, said. | |
| "But he just appeared to be oblivious to the fact that the riot was taking place." | "But he just appeared to be oblivious to the fact that the riot was taking place." |
| 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. |
| Mr Brown said Mr Tomlinson "wasn't directing any anger towards me". | 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. | 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. | "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. | "Even if he had a drink he was polite - a very polite man. |
| "He was a good man and I miss him." | "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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Wearing a Millwall FC T-shirt, Mr Tomlinson appeared to gesture to police after getting up. |
| Then he was seen walking unsteadily before collapsing. | 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. | 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' | '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 protester, 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. |
| 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| "I still wear my wedding rings today and I never take them off," she added. | "I still wear my wedding rings today and I never take them off," she added. |
| 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' | '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 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. | 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". | 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. | The inquest continues. |