Dalian Atkinson: Former footballer threatened to take policeman “to the gates of hell”, court said | UK News

A policeman accused of the murder of Dalian Atkinson said the former footballer threatened to take him “to the gates of hell”, a court has heard.

PC Benjamin Monk, 42, made the claim, telling investigators he kicked Atkinson to “control and hold him” when he fell to the ground after receiving a taser.

Monk denies murder and manslaughter, while PC Ellen Bettley-Smith denies the assault.

The Birmingham Crown Court trial learned how Mr Atkinson, who played for clubs such as Aston Villa and Ipswich, went into cardiac arrest and died after a Taser was used on him for 33 seconds – six times longer than normal.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy QC on Wednesday summed up Monk’s explanation to investigators of the Telford incident in the early hours of August 15, 2016.

“He described how, when he approached (Mr Atkinson’s father’s house), he was aware of a very loud argument going on at the property, with one voice much louder than the other,” she told the court.

“He explained that when Mr. Atkinson appeared at the door of the house, he was in obvious rage and said, ‘This is the Messiah’.

“He said he produced the Taser, but Mr. Atkinson, whom PC Monk didn’t know, was apparently indifferent when he was introduced to the Taser, saying, ‘I’m going to take you to the gates of hell. “.

“PC Monk was, he said, fearful of himself, his partner and whoever was on (the property),” the prosecutor added.

Monk told investigators – in bail interviews – that he fired his Taser when Mr Atkinson walked up to him.

“It was totally ineffective so he told PC Bettley-Smith, who at this point had pressed the emergency button on his radio, to run,” Ms Healy told jurors.

“After what must have been,” he said, “shortly afterwards Mr. Atkinson stopped running and so they, the officers, also stopped …