Ian Tomlinson, British newspaper vendor
Mon Aug 5, 2013 6:7PM GMT
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The
British Metropolitan Police have admitted misconduct in the death of
Ian Tomlinson, the newspaper vendor, who police beat to death during
protests against a Group of 20 meeting in 2009.
The forced apologized and said it had reached an out-of- court settlement with the family of the murdered.
The 47-year-old newspaper vendor was trying to leave a police cordon put up to contain protesters in London financial district, when officer Simon Harwood shoved him to the ground causing him to collapse and subsequently death.
In a statement on Monday, Scotland Yard acknowledged the suffering Tomlinson's family has "endured with dignity" over the last four years, adding that a settlement had been reached.
“I apologize unreservedly for Simon Harwood's use of excessive and unlawful force, which caused Mr. Tomlinson's death, and for the suffering and distress caused to his family as a result," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner said in the statement.
De Brunner added that she took "full responsibility" for Harwood's actions.
Harwood was tried and acquitted of manslaughter, but later fired after a police disciplinary panel ruled these actions amounted to gross misconduct.
Tomlinson's widow, Julia, said Monday that the police apology was "as close as we are going to get to justice."
“It will always be painful for us that Ian died so violently, but at least he is at rest now, and the force has publicly acknowledged the truth," she said.
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