25 Mar 2011

Ian Tomlinson: timeline map

View an interactive map documenting Ian Tomlinson’s last moments at the 2009 G20 protests in London, where he collapsed and died shortly after being struck and pushed to the floor by a police officer.

On Monday 25 March the inquest into the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson will begin almost two years after his death.

The 47-year-old was struck by a police baton before being pushed to the ground on 1 April 2009 as thousands took to the streets in the G20 protests. Shortly after, Mr Tomlinson – who was not participating in demonstrations but on his way home from work – collapsed and died.

A pathologist initially found Mr Tomlinson died of natural causes, but two subsequent post-mortems suggested internal bleeding.

Judge Peter Thornton QC was appointed in November to hear evidence at the jury inquest which is expected to last for up to six weeks.

The inquest is likely to examine actions of the police, the pathologists, coroner and investigators.

Initially pathologist Dr Freddy Patel found Mr Tomlinson died of natural causes linked to a coronary artery disease. His findings were re-examined after footage published by the Guardian showed a police officer pushing Mr Tomlinson to the ground.

Further footage filmed by Channel 4 News showed police officer Pc Simon Harwood striking Mr Tomlinson with a baton before shoving him from behind.

A second pathologist suggested Mr Tomlinson died of internal bleeding from blunt force trauma, in combination with cirrhosis of the liver. A third examination agreed with the findings of the second assessment.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided Pc Harwood would not be charged with a criminal offence because there was “no realistic prospect” of a conviction due to the fundamental disagreement among the medical experts.

Pc Harwood now faces a disciplinary hearing of gross misconduct, which could see him dismissed by Scotland Yard, but this will not take place until after the inquest.