PC who beat Dalian Atkinson with batons after being tasered for excessive use of force

An independent tribunal found on Friday that Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, a West Mercia police officer, acted improperly when she hit Dalian Atkinson three times with her baton during an incident in the early hours of August 15, 2016-sportsman later died .

Former Aston Villa striker Mr Atkinson died after being kicked at least twice in the head by Mrs 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.

After Mr Atkinson was tasered to the ground and kicked in the head by Monk, Ms Bettley-Smith used her baton on him and claimed she “sensed” him trying to get up, although several civilian witnesses at the 48th -year-olds remembered. did not move” and “was not resistant”.

Monk was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2021 following his conviction for manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court.

Ms Bettley-Smith – known as Ellie – was acquitted of assaulting Mr Atkinson after a trial, but the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found there was a disciplinary case of gross misconduct chargeable for her use of force was.

While the panel found that three initial punches – before Monk kicked him – were “lawful”, it found Bettley-Smith’s decision to then hit Mr Atkinson three more times after police assistance arrived “unnecessary, disproportionate and in all circumstances inappropriate.” “. and therefore illegal”.

The panel is now set to hear evidence on whether the 33-year-old, who was a probation officer at the time of the incident, can keep her job or face a reduced sentence later on Friday.