Taser injury case Met officer a liar - prosecutor

PC Imran Mahmood told the court he was "just trying to do my job"

A Metropolitan Police officer who left a man paralysed after Tasering him during a pursuit has been accused during cross-examination of lying in court.

PC Imran Mahmood, 36, denies a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Jordan Walker-Brown.

Mr Walker-Brown, who was 23 at the time, was left with "catastrophic" injuries after hitting his head on the pavement and breaking his back on 4 May 2020.

PC Mahmood told Southwark Crown Court he had "honestly" believed Mr Walker-Brown had a weapon, but was accused by the prosecution of lying "to justify what you did".

PC Mahmood chased Mr Walker-Brown on foot after noticing him walking along the pavement in Burgoyne Road, Haringey, north London, the court was told.

The jury heard PC Mahmood used his Taser when Mr Walker-Brown jumped on to a wheelie bin to climb over a fence in the front garden of a house.

The electric shock caused Mr Walker-Brown to tumble backwards over the wall. He landed head-first on a footpath and broke his back.

The officer told jurors he had discharged his Taser after Mr Walker-Brown "turned around" on top of the bins, adding that he "honestly" believed the younger man was in possession of a weapon and going to attack him.

During cross-examination on Friday, prosecutor Ben FitzGerald KC said: "The truth is that he was about to get over the wall and you fired to stop him getting away."

PC Mahmood replied: "That is incorrect."

Mr FitzGerald went on: "I'm afraid you had to make up a false account afterwards to justify what you did."

Jordan Walker-Brown was left paralysed from the waist down

"No, that is incorrect," PC Mahmood replied. "I'm not a liar. I was just trying to do my job."

"I'm afraid you are a liar, Mr Mahmood," the prosecutor said.

PC Mahmood accepted he did not see Mr Walker-Brown take out a weapon and that no movement was made towards him with a weapon.

But the officer said he was "adamant" that at the time he thought Mr Walker-Brown had a knife and had "honestly believed" he was going to attack him.

Mr FitzGerald asked: "Was it the case that in that moment of anger and frustration that he would not follow your commands that you fired the Taser?"

"Absolutely not," PC Mahmood said.

He insisted his actions were to protect himself and others and that it was a reasonable use of force, although PC Mahmood agreed there had been an "obvious risk of injury" by using his Taser in the situation.

He has finished giving evidence and the trial continues on Tuesday.

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