Dalian Atkinson: ‘You can stick your Tasers up your a***’

Dalian Atkinson: a look at reporting on the death of the former Aston Villa footballer.

BBC: “Tasered footballer given CPR for 35 minutes”

The post-Tasering facts are given to us straight:

Doctors battled in vain for 35 minutes to save ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson after he was Tasered by police, the inquest into his death has heard. He died 90 minutes after the weapon was used by police in Telford on 15 August.The 48-year-old former Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich striker went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

But why did he die?

The inquest was adjourned to 22 November after post-mortem tests failed to establish the cause of death.

Waiting is hard on the loved ones. Sky says they will have to wait nine months for an independent police watchdog investigation to complete its investigation. Thats seems like a very long time to wait. Why does it take so long?

The coroner’s officer Julie Hartridge said West Mercia Police officers were called there at 1.39am following a “report of concern for safety”. She told coroner John Ellery that Mr Atkinson became unresponsive shortly after being shot with a stun gun. “At hospital, following 35 minutes of CPR, he was confirmed deceased,” she added.

Tragic indeed that a call of a report for safety should end in a death triggered, as is alleged, by police action. It’s the kind of help you could do without.

Guardian: “Two police officers to be interviewed over death of Dalian Atkinson”

A spokesperson for the IPCC goes on the record:

“Our independent investigation into the death of Dalian Atkinson is expected to take around nine months. We recognise there is significant public interest and while we will carry out the investigation as swiftly as possible, we need to ensure it is thorough and robust. Interviews under criminal caution with two West Mercia police officers will take place shortly.”

The Star cocks an ear:

Aston Villa fans hurl abuse at cops over Dalian Atkinson Taser death

What did they say that was abusive?

As the officers move in to disperse the crowd, they can be heard repeatedly chanting: “You can stick your Tasers up your a***.”

Abusive? That sounds restrained.

Anorak

Posted: 25th, August 2016 | In: Reviews | Comment

Dalian Atkinson: Police kill threatening unarmed black man with a Taser

Former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot by a police taser. West Mercia Police tell us:

West Mercia Police can confirm that officers responded to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual at approximately 1.30am this morning at an address in Telford. Upon arrival, taser was deployed and a 48-year-old man, who subsequently received medical attention, was pronounced dead at approximately 3am.

Tasers are safe, right?

West Mercia Police are unable to comment any further as the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as is normal procedure, and will assist the IPCC with their inquiries.

 

 

Why did the police shoot? The BBC says:

A neighbour described seeing the former Aston Villa star, 48, being Tasered after “stumbling towards” police.

The Mirror says: “Ex-Aston Villa footballer ‘approached police in non-threatening manner’.” Well, so says a source. The police have not commented.

We hear from Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench. She tells the BBC:

“They were shouting and kicking so much all I could hear were the boots hitting him. And then the officer who released the Taser stepped back while the other officer still continued to kick and then I could hear him shout to the other officer that was still kicking, ‘Back off, back off, back off.’ And then the officer with the Taser asked the gentleman to put his hands behind his back and did so probably two or three times and reactivated the Taser another four or five times after that.”

Quinn has also spoken to her local newspaper, Before hearing from her again, we hear from Dalian Atkinson’s father:

“He was in a real state. He was very agitated and his mind was upset. The last thing he said to me was ‘don’t move’ when the police came to the door. He was threatening and very upset. I didn’t call the police but someone else did. He got tasered in the street outside in the road. I didn’t see him but I saw a flash. I haven’t had any sleep and cannot take it in.”

The Sun has more:

‘MY BOY IS DEAD’ Dalian Atkinson’s dad’s anguished cries as he revealed his son turned up at his home ‘drunk’ before being Tasered to death by police

Adding:

Ernest, 85, said is son was ‘in a real state’ before he was zapped with stun gun and ‘repeatedly kicked’ by officers

Lots of bold claims in inverted commas point to one thing: uncertainty. The Sun keeps going:

PREM ACE TASER DEATH Former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson was ‘Tasered six times and kicked by cops’ before he died

We hear more:

 

 

The Indy adds a race angle:

Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, a charity that supports families bereaved by deaths in custody, said there will be particular concern over the latest incident because Mr Atkinson was black.

Oh?

“There’s a lot of disquiet over the disproportionate number of people from BME (black and minority ethnic) communities who are dying at the hands of the police. This will understandably raise questions about whether the use of the Taser was proportionate in the circumstances.”

Much more to follow.

 

Anorak

Posted: 15th, August 2016 | In: Reviews | Comments (3)