Dalian Atkinson was in 'disturbed' mental state and mentioned 'the messiah' before his death, jury hears

14 September 2022, 21:48

Dalian Atkinson was in a "disturbed" mental state, a jury has heard.
Dalian Atkinson was in a "disturbed" mental state, a jury has heard. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Dalian Atkinson was in a "disturbed" mental state and mentioned "the messiah" before his death, a jury has heard.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The second day of a re-trial of Pc Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith - an officer accused of assaulting Mr Atkinson - was told the footballer's mental state became disturbed in the hours before he was tasered and kicked in the head by Pc Benjamin Monk.

The former football star, 48, died of cardio-respiratory arrest in hospital after the incident in Meadow Close, Telford on August 15, 2016.

Monk was convicted of manslaughter last year by a jury, but it was unable to reach a verdict on an assault charge faced by his 32-year-old West Mercia Police colleague Bettley-Smith.

Prosecutors allege Bettley-Smith "lashed out" several times with a baton at Mr Atkinson, causing actual bodily harm.

Giving evidence at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Atkinson's partner, Karen Wright, said she had been due to drive him to a clinic in Cheshire for an afternoon medical appointment on August 15.

She also said that, on the evening of Sunday August 14, Mr Atkinson mentioned "the messiah" and pulled out a dialysis line which had left him in constant pain.

Read more: Three men arrested on suspicion of murdering a council worker shot dead in her Liverpool garden

Read more: Lord Ashcroft offers £50,000 reward to catch nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer

Dalian Atkinson played for Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town
Dalian Atkinson played for Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town. Picture: Alamy

Referring to her late partner, who she knew for 27 years, as "Dee", Ms Wright told the jury he left a friend's house in the early hours to travel to his father's home in Telford.

She told the court she spoke by telephone with Mr Atkinson after he had arrived, where he was tasered three times, before being taken to hospital.

Describing her partner, who was being treated for kidney failure and heart problems, as "always a gentle, loving, lovely man," she said: "He was very conscious of his health. He was jogging again in February 2016 so he was getting fit.

"Dee had a hospital appointment on that Monday. He was elated. He was very happy about that.

Ms Wright said she and a friend had initially tried to prevent Mr Atkinson leaving the house but he took the keys to her car and drove away at around 1am despite their pleas.

During a call to Mr Atkinson's mobile Ms Wright made at around 1.30am, the retired footballer said he was at his father's house and she heard voices she did not recognise in the background.

Pc Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, who denies assaulting Dalian Atkinson before the ex-footballer's death, arriving at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday
Pc Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, who denies assaulting Dalian Atkinson before the ex-footballer's death, arriving at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday. Picture: Alamy

A statement from Mr Atkinson's brother Paul was also read to the jury on Wednesday.

The 48-year-old's sibling said: "The last time I saw Dalian was Sunday August 14 2016 around 11pm, when I gave him a lift home from my house. He was in a good mood because he was finally going to receive private medical treatment."

He also stated that his brother later briefly visited his home some time after midnight.

"I heard a knock at the door and someone calling my name," he said.

"I heard Dalian saying: 'You are plotting against the wrong person, I am the messiah.' I then heard the front gate close."

Bettley-Smith denies assault, claiming she acted lawfully in Meadow Close while trying to protect others.

The trial continues.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal retires from tennis, as Spain defeat in Davis Cup brings curtain down on glittering career

Wes Streeting has launched a review of the role of physician associates in the NHS

Ministers hunt for answers on role of less qualified physician associates in the NHS, as 'toxic debate' rages

Rough sleepers in Preston

Over 20,000 young people expected to be homeless this Christmas

Jermaine Jenas' wife has broken her silence over his sexting scandal

Jermaine Jenas' wife breaks silence over football star husband's sexting scandal

Keir Starmer has been urged to axe the inheritance tax changes

Starmer urged to axe inheritance tax change or risk 'ending farming as we know it', as Labour slam 'misinformation'

Metropolitan Police officers

'Offensive speech is not illegal', Tories say, as they urge ministers to let police 'protect public and catch criminals'

Tulisa has revealed she is 'demisexual'

I'm a Celeb's Tulisa says 'she's been celibate for 3 years' as N-Dubz star tells campmates she's 'demisexual'

Snow and ice could cause travel chaos again on Wednesday

Britain braces for another day of snow chaos as new ice warning comes into force amid fears of travel misery

Andrew and Tristan Tate appear at Bucharest Court of Appeal

Andrew Tate sex offences case could be withdrawn after court finds 'multiple irregularities'

Liam Payne's funeral is set to take place tomorrow with all four One Direction bandmates expected to pay their respects.

Liam Payne's funeral to take place tomorrow with all four One Direction bandmates expected to pay their respects

Exclusive
Farmers protesting in Westminster against a rise in inheritance tax

Minister says claim 70,000 farms to be stung by inheritance tax change is 'absolutely crazy misinformation'

Welcome to the Gemini era by Google

Google's AI chatbot Gemini tells user to 'please die' and 'you are a burden on society' in shock response

Some 100,000 pensioners are set to be pushed into poverty by the winter fuel allowance cut

Winter fuel payment cuts to force 100,000 pensioners into poverty - but Starmer says OAPs 'better off under Labour'

"Predatory" former vicar Ifor Whittaker, 80, has be sentenced over child sex offences for the third time.

"Predatory" former vicar charged with child sex offences for third time

'The facts speak for themselves': Starmer hits out at Jeremy Clarkson following Westminster farming protests

'The facts speak for themselves': Starmer hits out at Jeremy Clarkson following Westminster farming protests

The farmers had travelled to the hotel close to the Excel Centre in east London where they were staying prior to the protests

Farming couple who drove 150 miles with baby to join Westminster protests left stranded after truck stolen from hotel