Trial Of PC Simon Harwood

A jury today retired to consider its verdict in the case of the police officer accused of the manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson.

PC Simon 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.

The police officer accepted during his evidence at Southwark Crown Court that he was "wrong" to have hit and pushed him.Harwood from Carshalton in Surrey, denies manslaughter on the grounds that he used reasonable force.

Mr Tomlinson was walking away from police lines when he was hit and shoved to the ground, but at the time Harwood said he thought he was being deliberately obstructive.

Mr Tomlinson was an alcoholic who slept rough for a number of years.

The jury retired at 10.50am.

The trial Ian Tomlinson continues today. The police officer accused of his manslaughter told a court yesterday he believed the 47-year-old was being deliberately obstructive when he hit him with a baton and pushed him to the ground.

Pc Simon Harwood, 45, told Southwark Crown Court Mr Tomlinson looked as if he "wanted" officers to move him away.

Mr Tomlinson, who was an alcoholic and slept rough for a number of years, walked around 75 yards before he collapsed and later died.

Harwood denies manslaughter on the grounds that he used reasonable force.

The police officer accused of killing the newspaper-seller Ian Tomlinson has admitted hitting him with a baton and pushing him - because he thought he was deliberately obstructing the police.

Constable Simon Harwood today begun giving evidence at his trial, where he denies a charge of manslaughter.

Mr Tomlinson died during the G20 protests in central London three years ago.

Harwood today told a court he believed the 47-year-old was being deliberately obstructive when he hit him with a baton and pushed him to the ground.

He said Mr Tomlinson looked as if he "wanted" officers to move him away.

Harwood hit Mr Tomlinson with his baton and shoved him to the ground near the Royal Exchange Buildings in the City of London during the G20 protests in April 2009.

Mr Tomlinson, who was an alcoholic and slept rough for a number of years, walked around 75 yards before he collapsed and later died.

A court has heard how the police officer accused of the manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson was "shocked" when he saw footage of himself pushing the newspaper seller to the ground during the G20 protests.

PC Simon Harwood allegedly hit the 47-year-old with a baton while policing the demonstrations in 2009. Mr Tomlinson later collapsed and died.

Ronke Phillips sent this report.

More from our correspondent Ronke Phillips at the trial of PC Simon Harwood.

Our correspondent Ronke Phillips is at the trial of PC Simon Harwood, 45, who is accused of killing newspaper-seller Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests in 2009.

Harwood denies manslaughter.