A DEPTFORD MAN WENT BERZERK AFTER A DOMESTIC DISPU
A DEPTFORD MAN WENT BERZERK AFTER A DOMESTIC DISPUTE AND BIT
THREE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE SHOULDER, ANKLE AND FINGERS, A
COURT HEARD TODAY.
POLICE OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO THE ALBANY EMPIRE, DEPTFORD BY
A WOMAN WHO HAD ALLAGED HER HUSBAND HAD BEATEN HER UP.
WHEN THE HUSBAND BECAME VIOLENT AND ABUSIVE THEY ARRESTED
HIM FOR BREACH OF THE PEACE.
BUT A SCUFFLE BETWEEN THE OFFICERS AND THE MAN RESULTED IN
PC’S THOMPSON, SWETMAN AND SIMPSON BEING SAVAGELY BITTEN.
DONOVAN BARRETT,23, OF ALBION HOUSE, WATSON ST, DEPTFORD
APPEARED AT INNER LONDON CROWN COURT DENYING CHARGES OF
ASSAULTING PC’S CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON, NEIL SIMPSON AND PAUL
SWETMAN, ON APRIL 4 THIS YEAR.
‘WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE ALBANY, MRS BARNETT WAS WAITING
OUTSIDE AND POINTED TO HER HUSBAND WHO WAS SITTING ON TOP OF A
TELEPHONE BOX.
‘ SAID PC THOMPSON ACTING AS A PROSECTION
WITNESS.
‘ON APPROACHING HIM WE SUGGESTED HE STAY THE NIGHT WITH A
FRIEND UNTIL TEMPERS COOLED.
WHEN HE TRIED TO GET INTO THEIR
FLAT, I BLOCKED HIS WAY AND HE SAID,’IF YOU DONT LET ME SPEAK TO
MY WIFE, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU’.
‘
BARNETT WAS STILL STRUGGLING VIOLENTLY WHEN WE ARRESTED HIM
FOR BREACH OF THE PEACE’.
.
‘WHEN I TRIED TO HANDCUFF HIM, I WAS BITTEN ON THE RIGHT
SHOULDER.
P.
C.
SWETMAN TRIED TO PULL HIS HEAD AWAY AND WAS BITTEN
ON THE FINGER.
‘
‘LATER BARNETT FELL TO THE FLOOR AND AS I TRIED TO HANDCUFF
HIM AGAIN, HE BIT P.
C.
SIMPSON ON THE ANKLE.
‘ HE ADDED.
WHEN BARNETT WAS ASKED BY MR MICHAEL HAYNES, PROSECUTING, IF
HE TOUGHT IT UNREASONABLE TO BITE P.
C.
THOMPSON, HE
REPLIED,’I’M SORRY THAT I BIT HIM, BUT I DON’T THINK IT WAS
UNREASONABLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY I WAS BEING TREATED.
‘
BARNETT CLAIMED IN COURT THAT HE WAS BEATEN AND KICKED, FLUNG
FACE DOWN INTO A POLICE VAN AND CONTINUALLY KICKED AND PUNCHED
ON THE WAY TO THE STATION.
WHEN MR HAYNES ASKED BARNETT IF IT WAS NECESSARY TO REACT SO
VOILENTLY TO ARREST BARNETT REPLIED,
‘IT WAS ALL I COULD DO BECAUSE THE OTHER OFFICERS STARTED
STEAMING INTO ME.
‘
THE TRIAL CONTINUES.
,
