TRANSCRIPT OF INJURIES AND BACKGROUND TO PC MARK B

TRANSCRIPT OF INJURIES AND BACKGROUND TO PC MARK BERWICK

PC BERWICK, 41, told the court he had been a police officer for 18 years and was stationed at Harlesden police station on the night of the incident, May 30 1999.

The officer is now attached to Holborn station.

He was called to attend a break in at garages in Gresham Road, Neasden with Sergeant COATES and PC OLSON.

‘I saw two males standing on the roof.

I saw a hold they were standing by on the roof.

‘They were told to come down off the roof.

When they came off the roof Sgt COATES and PC OLSON started to speak to them on the forecourt part of the garage.

‘As there was three and there was a hole in the roof, I pursued the third suspect.

‘I walked round there and pulled myself up on to the wall on the right of the photograph and looked along the roof.

‘There was no trace of the third suspect.

Seeing there was a hole on the roof, I pulled myself up on to the roof and began moving towards it.

‘We couldn’t gain access through the front of the garage and the third suspect was missing.

I got about a third of the way across, I suppose and fell through.

‘

Asked what injuries he sustained he said: ‘Fractured lower back and severe concussion and numerous cuts and bruises.

‘

He was detained in hospital until midnight and two days later was taken to his local hospital for a brain scan.

PC BERWICK’S back injuries were two fractured vertebrae, which are permanently crushed.

He was off for three months originally and has since been off for another six months.

Asked if he had been given training about the dangers of going on roofs PC BERWICK said: ‘Not that I can recall no.

‘
ends