Body-worn camera footage showing John Henry Sayers being tasered by police while carrying a machete has been played to jurors at the Old Bailey. The 62-year-old from Fossway, Byker, was shot with tasers after allegedly confronting arsonist Walter Patterson, who had driven a burning Range Rover into his home.
Details of the Incident
The footage, from PC Christopher Hastie's body camera, shows Sayers walking away from officers before jogging towards his home. The trained firearms officer shouted "police with taser" before immediately shooting Sayers, who was then tasered multiple times by both officers. After his father was tasered, Sayers' 29-year-old son told the officer: "You've let the kid run away you f****** idiot. You've let the culprit go who has just smashed our house up."
Police Justification
PC Hastie told the court he believed Sayers could use the machete to cause serious harm, stating: "I believed he could cause death or serious injury with the weapon he refused to put down. There was an immediate risk to myself and my colleague." Both father and son deny causing GBH with intent, and the trial continues.
