PC who struck footballer Dalian Atkinson acted 'bravely'

A PC who repeatedly struck ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson with a baton connected the nighttime helium was killed by her workfellow "showed bravery nether utmost pressure", a disciplinary sheet heard.

It emerged successful a abstracted transgression proceedings that Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith had utilized the limb connected Mr Atkinson successful Telford successful August 2016.

But having been acquitted of related charges, she faces a disciplinary proceeding via West Mercia Police.

She denies gross misconduct.

Her ineligible squad told the enquiry she did "as she was trained to do", portion the lawsuit against her maintained the unit she utilized was unreasonable.

PC Bettley-Smith could look contiguous dismissal from the constabulary if the sheet rules against her successful the hearing, brought astatine the proposal of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Speaking astatine the opening of the disciplinary process, Patrick Gibbs KC, who is representing her, said: "She does not judge she misconducted herself grossly - oregon astatine all.

"She denies her behaviour breached standards of nonrecreational behaviour, connected a just presumption of this bittersweet but terrifying incident.

"Quite the contrary is true; she showed bravery nether utmost unit and was successful nary mode liable for the tragic outcome."

He added Bettley-Smith "did her probationary champion successful unusually challenging circumstances to contain, power and detain Dalian Atkinson - a usually peaceful man, who, due to the fact that helium was successful the grip of florid psychosis, presented that nighttime arsenic a serious, contiguous information to his father, the public, responding officers and himself".

Mr Atkinson - an Aston Villa striker successful the 1990s - died aft being tasered by PC Bettley-Smith's spouse and colleague, Benjamin Monk, who was jailed for manslaughter successful 2021.

Criminal proceedings brought against the brace heard however Mr Atkinson had been acting retired of quality extracurricular his father's location owed to ongoing wellness issues erstwhile constabulary attended.

Mr Atkinson died successful infirmary astir an hr aft Monk tasered him and kicked him successful the caput with capable unit to permission imprints of his bootlaces.

PC Bettley-Smith, the tribunal lawsuit heard, struck Mr Atkinson 3 times with her baton portion helium was lying connected the crushed aft the last taser discharge.

She was acquitted of causing him existent bodily harm astatine retrial successful September 2022.

At the disciplinary proceeding connected Monday, Dijen Basu KC, bringing the lawsuit against PC Bettley-Smith, said her actions "did not successful immoderate mode lend to the decease of Mr Atkinson".

But helium argued determination was "gross misconduct being truthful superior it amounts to a breach of standards of nonrecreational behaviour truthful serious, that dismissal volition beryllium justified".

He added: "We accidental the unit she utilized was unreasonable."