Re: What a cop out...
 

I think a fair jury would.

Re: What a cop out...
 

Ditto....case was no where near proved, never mind beyond a reasonable doubt.

Re: What a cop out...
 

Dunno, the video seemed pretty compelling to me.

It seems to me that the aquittal was based on a legal technicality regarding the way the case was prosecuted rather than any position of moral authority. It comes as no surprise though.

Re: What a cop out...
 

There will be a predictable reaction from the usual suspects.

I see the Tomlinson investigation is still ongoing. Although there was much less physical contact than the Fisher episode it's the casualness of the police in just shoving him over when there was no threat that looks bad.

Re: What a cop out...
 

The policeman made a reasonable case for lawful self defence. Prosecution couldn't prove he didn't act in lawful self defence. Seems clear cut not a technicality.

Re: What a cop out...
 

Ah yes, that terrifying orange juice carton, I can understand his fear:rolleyes:

Re: What a cop out...
 

To be honest, having been there, done that so to speak, given the circumstances of the protest, my first thought would have been 'what's in the carton???'...orange juice it may have been, however, I for one would have acted on the basis that it may have not been...Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6!

A result for common sense and natural justice IMHO :thumbup:

As the old saying goes, you have had to have been in similar circumstances (perhaps) to understand my reasoning.

Re: What a cop out...
 

I have been in a similar circumstance and I do understand your reasoning.

He was acquitted and, as a member of the legal profession, I accept that the right decision was made.

I would imagine he will experience a hard time from his colleagues and will now be a target for the more unsavoury members of society.

Re: What a cop out...
 

With regard to your last sentence I fear you are correct. I would hope his colleagues (other than his Senior officers , of the 'Career comes first' mentality) will be in the main supportive (they would have been in my day) and the hard time you speak of from his immediate colleagues being more in line with 'taking the piss' than anything else.

I suspect he will get a desk job somewhere till matters fade a little before he can resume his career which is unfortunate but that's the way it go's

Re: What a cop out...
 

A fair point.

But looking at it another way, had it not been a cop but someone else acting that way...say a football fan faced with a fan of a rival team, or a couple of people in a taxi queue do you think we'd have a similar outcome?
:sneaky:

Re: What a cop out...
 

I doubt he will get a hard time from his rank and file colleagues. Not too sure about the senior ranks though!

Tim

Re: What a cop out...
 

If the court were satisfied that the person in the dock was acting in self defence...yes.

Re: What a cop out...
 

No doubt he will get lots of orange cartons waved at him to try to provoke him when he returns to the beat!

Re: What a cop out...
 

The police officer showed restraint and professionalism in my opinion. There were clear warnings made, a clear cascade of force from verbal to light pushing to an open handed slap to use of a baton on a green area.

He was in the middle of a large group that was flashing and had multiple possible threat points to observe. Any fast moving person coming within his space would have been considered a threat esp with something in their hand. At times like that you do not have time to see if it is fresh OJ or apple or indeed if it is juice is it frozen so becomes an effective weapon, is it an acid or pepper mix to be sprayed in my face to incapacitate my vision making me ineffective and thus a target and a drain on my services effectiveness to police the protest?

The only reasons this was taking to the courts is because he is an officer and the video. My recent experience in the UK is that if this was civillian on civillian at a taxi rank on a typical friday night the beat bobbies would have taken names and sent them on their own ways. No charges .............

Food for thought really - we need to support the police - they need to be held accountable yes but we also have to understand that they are willing to put themselves into situations that most other people would run away from.

Right decision but the officer should not have been put through it in this case. Not to say they should not be reviewed.

Re: What a cop out...
 

Hands up if you are or ever have been a police officer;)