LONDON -- A British police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct over an incident that resulted in the death of a man during the 2009 Group of 20 summit in London.
Officer Simon Harwood hit 47-year-old newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson with a baton and shoved him to the ground as Tomlinson tried to leave a cordon put up to contain protesters. Tomlinson collapsed and died moments later.
Harwood was tried and acquitted of manslaughter in July, but on Monday a police disciplinary panel said his actions amounted to gross misconduct. Defence lawyer Patrick Gibbs said Harwood accepted the ruling.
The panel declined to consider whether Harwood's actions had contributed to Tomlinson's death.
Tomlinson's widow and two stepsons walked out of the room saying "Whitewash" as the hearing ended.
