Bristol police officer who tasered race relations adviser found not guilty

A police officer who tasered her own force’s race relations adviser, after mistaking him for a suspect, has been found not guilty of assault.

Acting Sergeant Claire Boddie approached Judah Adunbi, 64, with another officer in the Easton area of Bristol on 14 January last year.

Mr Abundi said that after being tasered, it “felt like my head was frying”.

Salisbury Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Adunbi had been repeatedly mistaken for a suspect both before and after the incident.

Ms Boddie believed she had used reasonable force when she used her weapon against Mr Abundi.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Abundi became increasingly frustrated and swore at officers when they approached him at about 9pm.

Mr Abundi refused to identify himself, as was his legal right, the court heard.

In body-worn camera footage shown in court, both PC Boddie and the officer tell Mr Abundi they believe he looks like Royston McCalla, a suspect wanted by police for failing to turn up to court, and someone who had warnings for violence and weapons on his file.

In the footage, Mr Abundi repeatedly shouts at the officers to leave him alone, saying they are “victimising” him.

He is being pursued for “no f****** reason”, he adds, and calls the officers “racist”.

When asked to give his name he can be heard saying: “Why are you following me around?

“F****** leave me alone.

“Don’t ask me any questions, I don’t give a damn. Go and find who you’re looking for.

“I’m not giving you my name, because it is my right. I have done no wrong.

“I don’t have to tell you sweet jack. You wanna arrest me? Go on. Arrest me.”

Mr Posner told the court Mr Adunbi had his hands by his side before the alleged assault.

In the footage he appears to move away from the officers and stands apart from them.

As he falls to the ground, a bystander who was filming the incident can be heard telling the officers: “That was totally uncalled for and unnecessary.”

Mr Adunbi then throws his wallet to the ground and yells: “There’s my ID, check my ID, why won’t you check my ID,” before giving his full name.

Mr Posner said: “He made it clear it was not him. He wasn’t under arrest. He was upset and swore at the defendant.

“There was no good reason for (discharging the Taser).

“It was not in self-defence, it was not in defence of PC Darren Weston, and in doing so Claire Boddie demonstrated an unlawful use of force to affect an arrest.”

But District Judge Tan Ikram said the “issue” for him was whether the prosecution had persuaded him that “she (Ms Boddie) didn’t act in self-defence”.

“The prosecution failed to persuade me and she is found not guilty of assault for that reason,” the judge added.

(c) Sky News 2018: Bristol police officer who tasered race relations adviser found not guilty