Police officer charged with murder of former footballer Dalian Atkinson

A police officer has been charged with the murder of former footballer Dalian Atkinson, who died after being tasered near his father's home in Telford in 2016.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the West Mercia Police officer would be appearing at Birmingham Crown Court today (November 7) along with a colleague who has been accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Jenny Hopkins, from the CPS, said in a statement: "Following the death of Dalian Atkinson in Telford on 15 August 2016, the Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised a charge of murder against a West Mercia police constable."

"A second police constable, from the same force, has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH). Mr Atkinson's family has been informed."

"This decision was made following a careful review of all the evidence presented to us by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following an investigation."