Dalian Atkinson: Murder-accused PC says he thought he was 'going to die'

2 June 2021, 20:20 | Updated: 2 June 2021, 20:38

PC Monk denies murder and manslaughter
PC Monk denies murder and manslaughter. Picture: PA/Karen Wright

By Will Taylor

A police officer accused of murdering Dalian Atkinson said he thought he was "going to die" during his encounter with the ex-Aston Villa footballer, a court has heard.

West Mercia Police Constable Benjamin Monk denies murder and manslaughter. Prosecutors say he used unlawful and unreasonable force as he fired a Taser for 33 seconds then kicked Mr Atkinson in his head.

Monk, 43, said the kick was "instinctive", telling jurors he was "terrified" that he and his colleague "were going to die" in the August 15 2016 incident – but insisted he didn't want to harm him.

The jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard how three Taser cartridges were used by Monk. Mr Atkinson was then handcuffed near his father's home in Telford, Shropshire, in the early hours of that day.

The officer and his colleague, PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, who he was seeing at the time, were sent to the address after a report of a concern about the welfare of the elderly occupant.

Monk, an officer of 14 years, said two previous Taser strikes had not worked and he needed to switch to his third and final cartridge.

He told jurors Mr Atkinson allegedly said to him "you can put 100,000 volts through me, I'm the f****** messiah - your Taser won't work and now I'm going to take you to the gates of hell".

Mr Atkinson died after being tasered and kicked in the head, a court has heard
Mr Atkinson died after being tasered and kicked in the head, a court has heard. Picture: PA

After the second Taser strike failed, Monk said he felt he and his colleague were "done for", and he "ran for my life".

"He (Mr Atkinson) was very, very scary," Monk continued.

"And the device which I thought might work for me, hadn't worked and I was terrified."

The officers backed away while calling for support from fellow officers.

Monk said he Tasered Mr Atkinson a third time, and the ex-footballer stopped moving and fell to the floor.

"The fear I had when he was coming towards me knowing I was on the last (Taser) cartridge, and everything else had failed,” Monk said.

"In concert with that, if this cartridge didn't work, Ellie (Bettley-Smith), me, the gentleman inside the house, were potentially done for - so the fact it worked it was a big relief."

The officer said he believed Mr Atkinson then tried to pick off the Taser's electricity barbs to get back up, while Bettley-Smith struck his legs with a baton.

Believing Mr Atkinson was trying to get up, he kicked the 48-year-old, Monk said.

He added that he believed the kick was "about a four" out of ten in terms of force and added: "I wanted Mr Atkinson to stop getting up because I thought if he's going to get up, we were going to die."

Monk denied a witness' account that he stamped on Mr Atkinson, and denied telling Bettley-Smith to "f****** hit him".

He said a difference in his accounts - having previously told an interview at the time that he kicked Mr Atkinson in the shoulder, not the head - was because he wished it had gone differently.

Bettley-Smith, 31, is also on trial, and denies a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, by using her force-issue extendable baton.

The trial continues.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Elderly women watching TV in outpatient clinic waiting room in NHS hospital. UK

NHS should ‘tear up the outpatient model’, health service chief executive says

Brian Wilson passed away aged 82.

Surviving Beach Boys pay tribute to songwriter ‘genius’ Brian Wilson

Palestinians carry boxes and bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization approved by Israel, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 29, 2025.

Controversial aid distributer accuses Hamas of carrying out attack on bus transporting Palestinians

A net balance of 28% of professionals reported seeing the number of sales agreed falling. Sales volumes are generally expected to flatten out rather than fall in the three months ahead, the survey indicated.

House sales tipped to bounce back with 'strongest outlook' since February - but buyer interest still slipping

Supporters of Dignity in Dying celebrate on hearing the result of the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London.

UK doctor says helping patients die in Australia is a ‘tremendous privilege’ and calls for law change at home

The body of Yair Yaakov, 59, has reportedly been recovered.

Two more hostages recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza, Netanyahu says

There were reports of vehicles being damaged and burned out, stolen cars, motorbikes being used and bricks thrown at officers amid the disorder, Greater Manchester Police said.

Girl, 16, charged with assaulting an emergency worker in Salford after ‘60 masked youths’ clash with police

The affected products include the Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, “Misfits” Gummies, Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Berry Gummies, the FSA said.

'Don't eat them': Brits told to avoid popular American sweets linked to cancer amid 'toxicological concern'

A woman has been arrested after a four-year-old boy was found dead in Dunholme End.

Boy, 4, found dead inside Maidenhead home as police arrest woman on suspicion of murder

Exclusive
Caz Holbrook, 54, said 2023 was a "very stressful" year after her landlord evicted her and her 15-year-old son from their home in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

I was evicted after Liz Truss's budget tanked the economy – my son and I ended up in a beetle-infested flat

St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd

Village church ordered to silence 'cherished' chiming bells after residents' complaints spark huge row

The Bridgerton actress said she has been left with a concussion and "on edge" - and the incident traumatised her dog.

Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour left 'traumatised' after fighting off phone thief who threatened to 'stab' her

Shopper walking through the aisle of a supermarket.

Deadly disease outbreak linked to 'contaminated' UK supermarket item

Demonstrators gathered outside Stoke Newington Police Station in protest against police in schools, after it emerged that a 15-year-old Black girl ('Child Q') was strip-searched by police at a Hackney school, which is thought to be racially motivated.

Officer who strip-searched black schoolgirl while she was on her period admits failings but denies racist motivation

Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England

My mum finds Jude Bellingham’s on-field antics repulsive, says Thomas Tuchel

The jury found him not guilty of an additional sexual assault charge and have not yet returned a verdict on a charge of rape.

Harvey Weinstein found guilty in New York sexual assault retrial but acquitted on second charge