A police constable found guilty of gross misconduct by using excessive force against former footballer Dalian Atkinson after he was Tasered to the ground is to keep her job.
Pc Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith leaves Birmingham Crown Court after she was acquitted on the charges of assaulting footballer Dalian Atkinson before his death in August 2016
An independent tribunal found on Friday that Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, a West Mercia Police officer, acted wrongly when she struck Dalian Atkinson three times with her police-issue baton during an incident in the early hours of August 15 2016, after which the ex-sportsman died. The panel could have sacked Bettley-Smith, a University of Hull graduate originally from Staffordshire, without notice but instead handed her a final written warning.
The move came after the barrister who presented the case against her, Dijen Basu KC, said West Mercia’s Police’s Deputy Chief Constable had instructed that the panel be asked to consider the lesser sanction, as well as dismissal without notice.Pc Benjamin Monk, right, was convicted of Mr Atkinson's murder
Former Aston Villa striker Mr Atkinson died after being kicked at least twice in the head by Ms Bettley-Smith’s more experienced colleague, Pc Benjamin Monk, outside the victim’s father’s home in Telford, Shropshire, six-and-a-half years ago.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pc facing sack after excessive force misconduct finding in Dalian Atkinson casePc Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith has been found guilty by a disciplinary panel of gross misconduct for using excessive force in the incident in Telford, following which the ex-footballer later died.
Read more »
I did what I had to do, says PC who repeatedly hit Dalian AtkinsonMary Ellen Bettley-Smith tells her disciplinary hearing about the day the ex-footballer died.
Read more »
PC's blows against Dalian Atkinson 'outrageous'PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith hit the ex-footballer in two sets of three baton strikes, a hearing is told.
Read more »
PC who hit ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson guilty of gross misconductA disciplinary hearing finds Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith used excessive force against the ex-footballer.
Read more »
PC guilty of gross misconduct for repeatedly hitting ex-Premier League star Dalian Atkinson after he was tasered'Outrageous and unnecessary': Police constable guilty of gross misconduct for repeatedly hitting ex-Aston Villa star Dalian Atkinson after he was tasered to the ground
Read more »
Dalian Atkinson: Police officer found guilty of gross misconduct for using excessive force against ex-Aston Villa playerA police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct for using excessive force after she repeatedly struck former Aston Villa player Dalian Atkinson with a baton, a disciplinary panel has found.
Read more »