G20 protester behaving erratically and similar to a goofy justice hears

Adam Fresco, Crime Correspondent , : {}

A G20 protester who was hit by a police officer with his baton was acting erratically and like a lunatic, a court heard yesterday.

Two office workers watched the protests and saw animal rights activist Nicola Fisher join dozens of demonstrators outside the Bank of England on April 2 last year.

They told City of Westminster Magistrates Court how they watched a confrontation between her and Metropolitan Police Sergeant Delroy Smellie develop.

Mark Ellul, who works in an office in Cornhill, said his eyes were drawn to Ms Fisher as she was hyperactive and behaving erratically in the moments before the clash.

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Giving evidence for the prosecution, he said: Nicola Fisher charged at the officer. She was being very aggressive towards the officer. She was right up in his face and appeared to shout and be confrontational.

Mr Ellul added that he felt Sgt Smellie was vulnerable because he was caught behind a line of officers who were looking in the other direction.

His colleague Tracey McDonnell said Ms Fisher was playing up to the cameras, acting aggressively towards police and throwing orange juice at Sgt Smellie.

She said: There were a lot of people there but we were drawn to her as she was bouncing around and the most aggressive person there at the time.

Sgt Smellie, a member of the Mets territorial support group, is on trial accused of assaulting the 36-year-old during a vigil to mark the death of Ian Tomlinson who had died the day before.

The court has heard he lawfully pushed Ms Fisher and hit her with the back of his hand, but prosecutors claim he committed a crime by striking her twice with a metal baton.

The clash was caught by several cameramen and photographers, gaining international notoriety after a recording of it was posted on YouTube.

Mr Ellul and Miss McDonnell said they contacted the Independent Police Complaints Commission after watching media coverage of the incident. Both said they felt the coverage gave an unfair and inaccurate portrayal of the officers actions.

Sgt Smellie, 47, denies one charge of assault by beating.

The case continues.