>The 43-year-old was tasered by former PC Oliver West who told the inquest Mr Beynon moved towards him after being slumped in a doorway.
>His account was backed up by PC Sian Beynon, who said she saw Mr Beynon shift as “if to move towards us”.
>This was disputed by other witnesses who said Mr Beynon was in a sitting position.
Something is wrong here. Did he get up or stay sitting? Why do the police officers accounts differ, with the independent witnesses supporting the one who did not use the taser? Why does the news story suggest the public witnesses dispute both the police officers when in fact they support one of them?
How many independent witnesses were there? The story indicates at least two.
Let’s assume the PC West actually meant that the sitting, mortally injured man leant forward, or attempted to get up. Is that enough to tase him? Where is the evidence of any threat to the officers’ safety?
I’d actually be sympathetic to the police officer if he had, say, been alarmed at the sight of a man covered with blood and had tased him pre-emptively in panic when he moved suddenly. However if that’s what happened I think he should be sent on mandatory retraining.
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>The 43-year-old was tasered by former PC Oliver West who told the inquest Mr Beynon moved towards him after being slumped in a doorway.
>His account was backed up by PC Sian Beynon, who said she saw Mr Beynon shift as “if to move towards us”.
>This was disputed by other witnesses who said Mr Beynon was in a sitting position.
Something is wrong here. Did he get up or stay sitting? Why do the police officers accounts differ, with the independent witnesses supporting the one who did not use the taser? Why does the news story suggest the public witnesses dispute both the police officers when in fact they support one of them?
How many independent witnesses were there? The story indicates at least two.
Let’s assume the PC West actually meant that the sitting, mortally injured man leant forward, or attempted to get up. Is that enough to tase him? Where is the evidence of any threat to the officers’ safety?
I’d actually be sympathetic to the police officer if he had, say, been alarmed at the sight of a man covered with blood and had tased him pre-emptively in panic when he moved suddenly. However if that’s what happened I think he should be sent on mandatory retraining.