Body-worn camera footage played in court has revealed the moment innocent John Henry Sayers was shot with tasers by Northumbria Police officers as he ran back towards his home in Byker carrying a machete. Sayers, 62, and his son, 29, were both cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Walter Patterson, who had been caught torching a Range Rover that had been rammed into their property.
Attack on Home and Police Response
Sayers' home had come under attack by arsonists, and he went outside to protect his children inside. When police arrived on Fossway, they initially did not spot Sayers and his son, who were standing next to Patterson, who was on the ground. After attracting the officers' attention, Sayers told them to get medical help for Patterson. He then began walking back towards his home, fearing for his children's safety.
The Old Bailey heard that Sayers still held the machete and started to jog back. He claimed he did not hear officers telling him to stop and put the weapon down. Two officers then fired their tasers, causing him to fall to the ground. During this, Patterson managed to flee the scene.
Footage and Testimony
The court viewed body-worn camera footage from one officer, showing Sayers senior next to a grounded Patterson. Sayers tells the officer to get medical assistance for Patterson, then walks off, responding with “f*** off” before jogging along the path towards his home. The footage becomes blurry as the officer runs after him, shouting “police with taser” before immediately discharging the taser. Sayers turns around and is shot a second time by the same officer and also by a colleague's taser.
In one clip, Sayers falls to the ground next to a metal fence. His son shouts “woah, woah, woah” and tells officers that Patterson has escaped, exclaiming: “You’ve let him go man.” Laura Miller, representing Sayers junior, cross-examined the officer, noting that the son said: “You’ve let the kid run away you f****** idiot. You’ve let the culprit go who has just smashed our house up.” The officer agreed that Sayers junior was “upset”.
Aftermath and Acquittal
Body-worn footage from a second officer showed Sayers lying on the ground after being tasered. He explained he had to move the burning Range Rover away from his property and said: “You’ve let the person who tried to burn my house down get away.” Both Sayers senior and junior were cleared of GBH with intent and the lesser alternative of GBH.
