Police officer found guilty of manslaughter of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson

Fiona Murphy (instructed by Kate Maynard of Hickman Rose) represented the family of Dalian Atkinson, the former Aston Villa player, who died on 15 August 2016 from a cardiac arrest, 70 minutes after being tasered and kicked twice in the head by PC Benjamin Monk, one of the arresting officers called to investigate a disturbance at the home of Mr Atkinson’s father in Telford, Shropshire.

Fiona advised in respect of the investigation touching upon Mr Atkinson’s death leading up to the criminal trial, including public law issues arising in respect of the conduct of the inquiry and from the failure to suspend PC Monk from duty after he was initially charged with murder. 

On Wednesday 23 June, PC Benjamin Monk was unanimously convicted of manslaughter after 19 hours of jury deliberation -  the first British police officer in 35 years to be convicted of manslaughter while on duty.

A verdict is expected today in relation to his co-accused, PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, who denies actual bodily harm for striking Atkinson with a baton while he was on the ground.

Further details of the case can be found here: BBC News, The Guardian, Sky News, The Telegraph.