G20 death: PC accepts it was 'wrong' to hit Ian Tomlinson

The police officer accused of the manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson said today he now accepts that he was "wrong" to have hit and pushed him.

Continuing his evidence at Southwark Crown Court, PC Simon Harwood said if he had realised Mr Tomlinson was walking away from police lines at the time he "would not have gone near him".

Harwood hit Mr Tomlinson with a baton and pushed him to the ground during the G20 protests in the City of London in April 2009.

The father-of-nine walked 75 yards before he collapsed and later died.

Harwood, 45, from Carshalton in Surrey, denies manslaughter on the grounds that he used reasonable force.ITV News' Crime Correspondent Jon Clements was at court.

Mark Dennis QC asked Harwood: "You do now accept that what you did in relation to Mr Tomlinson was wrong?"

Harwood replied: "Like I said, now I do, but not at the time."

He went on: "Now I've seen all the evidence and I know how poorly Mr Tomlinson was I'm sorry that I got involved, I shouldn't have hit him with a baton and pushed him."

Mr Tomlinson's family walked out of court as Harwood went through a list of his options when he came across the 47-year-old.

He listed using a baton, a push, kicks, punches, CS spray, handcuffs, his voice or firearms.

Harwood's wife, Helen, began crying as the questioning continued.

Earlier, the court heard Mr Harwood felt "shock" when he saw video footage of his encounter with Mr Tomlinson being shown on television.

He said he felt: "Shock at the fact that it was on television and the horror of actually thinking it could be me there and what it could lead to."

Jurors also viewed footage of him shoving another protestor minutes before coming across Mr Tomlinson.

The trial continues.