Ian Tomlinson case coroner speaks out

A coroner today defended his decision to use pathologist Dr Freddy Patel for the post-mortem examination on newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson.

Paul Matthews, who came under fire for appointing the doctor, justified his reasons during a pre-inquest hearing at City of London coroner's court. He also revealed that he had requested for a senior judge to replace him in presiding at the inquest.

Mr Tomlinson, 47, died after being struck by Pc Simon Harwood during the G20 protests in April last year. Dr Patel concluded he died from a heart attack. A second and third examination suggested instead that he had died from internal bleeding.

Mr Matthews said Dr Patel was a fully-registered medical practitioner and also on a Home Office list of accredited forensic pathologists.