The police officer who pushed Ian Tomlinson minutes before he died at the G20 protests in London has been accused of talking "rubbish" and telling lies.
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| Pc Simon Harwood is giving evidence for a third day |
The Tomlinsons' lawyer said Pc Simon Harwood was denying events clearly visible on video shown to the jury.
Pc Harwood told the inquest into the 47-year-old's death Mr Tomlinson had not been moving away from the police line with his back turned towards him.
In his statement, he said Mr Tomlinson was "almost inviting" confrontation.
Pc Harwood, part of the Metropolitan Police's specialist Territorial Support Group (TSG), was caught on film pushing the newspaper seller to the ground in Cornhill, central London, on 1 April 2009. Mr Tomlinson got back to his feet but collapsed and died minutes later.
The inquest jury, in London, watched the video again on Wednesday.
Matthew Ryder QC, for the Tomlinson family, asked Pc Harwood: "Do you agree he had his back to you? We're all here in this room looking at the video."
Mr Tomlinson was filmed moments before he died on 1 April 2009Pc Harwood replied: "No."
Mr Ryder said: "You're lying Pc Harwood, I suggest, and you know it."
To that, Pc Harwood said: "No. I'm just trying to help."
The officer maintained that "from his angle" it had appeared
Mr Tomlinson had not been moving away, which Mr Ryder said was "rubbish" and "absurd".
Members of Mr Tomlinson's family walked out in tears after hearing the policeman's denials.
Pc Harwood who has been giving evidence for three days, has already apologised to the Tomlinson family for "any way" he may be responsible for the death.
He has admitted Mr Tomlinson was no threat to him or his colleagues before he hit him with a baton and pushed him.
Mr Tomlinson, who was not a demonstrator and had been selling newspapers in nearby Fish Street Hill, was on his way home when he encountered the protests.
On Wednesday, the officer was challenged over claims in his statement that the father-of-nine had been inviting the confrontation and his push had been just a "gesture".
"He (Mr Tomlinson) just looked as if he was going to stay where he was whatever and was almost inviting physical confrontation in terms of being moved on," the statement said.
Mr Ryder asked: "Is that true, Pc Harwood?"
The officer replied: "Yes".
Pc Harwood, who is suspended from the force on full pay, has been told he will not face any criminal prosecutions over what happened - but he is still facing a Met Police misconduct hearing, due to take place after this inquest.
The inquest, which is sitting at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in Fleet Street, is examining the actions of police, the pathologist and independent investigators.
BBC NEWS - 6 April 2011
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