Dalian Atkinson tasered by ‘angry’ police officer for 33 seconds before death

 

Former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson died after being shot with a Taser more than six times longer than recommended by an “angry” police officer, a murder trial jury has heard.

PC Benjamin Monk, 42, is on trial at Birmingham Crown Court and has denied any wrongdoing in events leading to the death of Atkinson on 15 August 2016, who also played for Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday.

His colleague, PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, 31, is also on trial charged with assault. She has pleaded not guilty to a charge alleging she assaulted Atkinson occasioning actual bodily harm before his death.

Atkinson was restrained by police at his father’s house in Telford, Shropshire. The court heard an ambulance was called but Atkinson went into cardiac arrest en route to the Princess Royal Hospital and was pronounced dead at 2.45am.

What has the jury heard?

Opening the Crown’s case against Monk, prosecution counsel Alexandra Healy alleged Atkinson was tasered for 33 seconds, more than six times the standard five-second phase.

“PC Monk continued to depress the trigger for more than six times the length of a standard five-second phase,” said Heally.

“The Taser was deployed for 33 seconds.”

Jurors also heard that Atkinson was kicked twice in the head by Monk “with enough force to leave the imprint of the pattern of the laces from the top of his boot on two separate areas of Mr Atkinson's forehead”.

Healy added: “In kicking Dalian Atkinson in the head not once, but on two separate occasions, PC Monk was not, the prosecution say, acting in self-defence or in defence of another.

“He was no doubt angry that he had been put in fear by this man.

“He chose to take that anger out on Dalian Atkinson by kicking him in the head.

“His training will have taught him, and it is obvious, that the head is a sensitive area.

“In kicking Dalian Atkinson to the head PC Monk can only, the prosecution say, have only intended to cause really serious injury.”

Healy told jurors that pathologists and a specialist in intensive care instructed by the prosecution had concluded that Atkinson would not have died that night were it not for the third Taser deployment and the kicks to his head.

Monk’s colleague, Pc Bettley-Smith is also on trial, charged with assault. She has pleaded not guilty.

Healy said that Bettley-Smith struck Atkinson a number of times with her baton, including whilst he was lying on the ground.

The court also heard how the pair were “in a relationship”.

Why were police called?

Atkinson had become “disturbed and erratic” on the night of his death, the court heard. Police were called by a neighbour after Atkinson began shouting in the street. He is said to have been screaming: “I am the messiah, you cannot hurt me.”

Atkinson, who suffered from several health issues including high blood pressure, heart disease and end stage renal failure, was eventually taken by ambulance to the Princess Royal Hospital where he later died.

The trial continues.

What is Atkinson known for?

Atkinson was an English footballer who played as a striker.

He began his career at Ipswich Town before stints at Sheffield Wednesday, Real Sociedad, Aston Villa and a series of other clubs before he retired in 2001.

He is particularly well known for his time at Villa, where he won Match of the Day’s Goal of the Season award for the 1992–93 season.