A British police officer has become the first in 35 years to be convicted of manslaughter while on duty, after a jury found he used excessive force against former footballer Dalian Atkinson. PC Benjamin Monk, of West Mercia Police, was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court following a trial that heard he fired a stun gun at Atkinson for 33 seconds – six times longer than standard – and kicked him twice in the head as he lay on the ground.
Atkinson, 48, was in the midst of an acute mental health crisis when police were called to a disturbance at his childhood home in Telford, Shropshire, in August 2016. The jury heard that Monk's actions ended a six-minute clash in which Atkinson was kicked with such force that his blood was found in the laces of the officer's boots. Monk claimed he had acted in self-defence, saying he feared for his life, but the jury rejected his account.
The verdict marks the first successful prosecution of an on-duty police officer for manslaughter since 1986, when Alwyn Sawyer of Merseyside Police was convicted over the death of Henry Foley. Monk was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. The jury will continue deliberations on Thursday regarding a co-accused, PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, who denies charges of actual bodily harm for striking Atkinson with a baton.
Atkinson's family expressed relief at the conviction but condemned the delay in bringing the case to trial, which they described as “completely unacceptable”. They said they were “sickened” by Monk's defence, adding: “On the night he died, Dalian was vulnerable and unwell and needed medical attention. He instead received violence, and died with PC Monk's bootlace prints bruised on to his forehead.”
The former Aston Villa striker had suffered from severe health problems, including an enlarged heart and kidney failure requiring dialysis. He died 70 minutes after the incident. The family said they hoped the truth about his death would now bring some accountability, while noting the long wait for justice.
