Dalian Atkinson: PC Benjamin Monk jailed for ex-footballer’s death

Dalian Atkinson
Dalian Atkinson – Image credit http://www.swn.com

source: BBC News
published: 29 June 2021

A police officer who unlawfully killed Dalian Atkinson by tasering him to the ground and kicking him in the head has been jailed for eight years. PC Benjamin Monk, 43, discharged his taser three times and kicked him twice in the head, leaving bootlace prints on his forehead, his trial heard.

The former Aston Villa striker died after the 2016 stand-off outside his father’s home in Telford, Shropshire. Jurors cleared Monk of an alternative charge of murder on 23 June. He will serve two-thirds of his sentence before being entitled to release on licence.

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UN calls for end of ‘impunity’ for police violence against black people

French Riot Policesource: The Guardian
published: 28 June 2021

A UN report that analysed racial justice in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd has called on member states including the UK to end the “impunity” enjoyed by police officers who violate the human rights of black people.

The UN human rights office analysis of 190 deaths across the world led to the report’s damning conclusion that law enforcement officers are rarely held accountable for killing black people due in part to deficient investigations and an unwillingness to acknowledge the impact of structural racism.

The 23-page global report, and its accompanying 95-page conference room paper, features seven examples of deaths involving police, including the case of Kevin Clarke, who died after being restrained by officers in London in 2018.

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Filmmakers release documentary about black deaths in police custody

Ken Fero - Filmmaker
Ken Fero – Filmmaker (Migrant Media)

source: UltraViolencefilm.com
published: 23 June 2021

The makers of the controversial film Injustice, which the Police Federation tried to suppress on its release in 2001, will begin screenings of a hard hitting follow up film starting this weekend. Ultraviolence, which was 10 years in the making, revisits the deaths and also reveals shocking new evidence in other cases.

Migrant Media will launch the film at the BFI Southbank on June 26 in a screening that will gather the families of several cases of victims of police violence, particularly of black people, from the last three decades. These include cases of murder and manslaughter. The event will include the announcement of a major initiative by the families of the victims of police violence which is supported by Black Lives Matter, 4WardEverUK, the United Families & Friends Campaign and Migrant Media.

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