Peter Reynolds

Incompetent And Corrupt

The only even half-excuse that Keir Starmer, the DPP, had for not charging PC Simon Harwood over the death of Ian Tomlinson was disagreement among pathologists.   As it was, he should have allowed a jury to determine which pathologist to believe.  Now, Dr Freddy Patel, who wasn’t even qualified to carry out the post mortem in the first place, has been found guilty of misconduct by the General Medical Council.

Killer

Richard Davies, chairman of the GMC panel said in relation to another case that Patel should not have set aside his “professional judgement for any of the parties involved during or after a post-mortem examination for reasons of expediency or anything else”.  Patel’s credibility is therefore shot to pieces.  No jury could choose to believe him in the Tomlinson case, particularly when the other two pathologists were both agreed on their diagnosis.

There is therefore no reason now not to charge Harwood and there must be a better than even chance of his conviction for manslaughter.

Starmer has a chance to try to rescue his reputation.  He should grab it with both hands immediately.