G20 Trial: Tomlinson Family Walk Out Of Court

The family of Ian Tomlinson who died during the G20 protests in London three years ago walked out of court as the police officer accused over his death was cross-examined.

PC Simon Harwood's wife was in tears as her husband told his trial he could have used a firearm - instead of a baton - to deal with the 47-year-old during the trouble in 2009.

Mr Tomlinson was hit and pushed to the ground during the protests in the City of London in April 2009.

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

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

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

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

Mr Harwood said he now accepts that he was "wrong" to have hit and pushed him.

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

Mr 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."

Harwood, 45, from Carshalton in Surrey, denies manslaughter on the grounds that he used reasonable force.

Patrick Gibbs QC, for Harwood, asked him: "If you knew then what you know now from looking at the footage, would you have hit him with your baton?"

The officer replied: "I would not have gone near him."

He also said he would not have pushed Mr Tomlinson if he had known that he was drunk at the time.

Earlier, the court heard he 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."