A police officer has been found not guilty of assault after a court heard she shot a 64-year-old race relations adviser with a stun gun when she mistook him for a wanted man.
The court heard that acting Sgt Claire Boddie repeatedly asked Bristol man Judah Adunbi to identify himself and twice drew her stun gun as he refused, firing on the second occasion.
Describing the effect of the stun gun, Adunbi told the court: “My head was frying.” He said he felt “angry, frustrated, alarmed and distressed” at being challenged by the police.
The prosecution alleges that Boddie, 48, used unlawful force when she fired at Adunbi. It claims that Adunbi was within his rights to refuse to identify himself. Boddie denied assault.
Adunbi has sat on Bristol’s independent advisory group, which forges links between the police and the community, and has worked with the Crown Prosecution Service’s local community involvement panel.
The alleged assault took place close to his home in the Easton area of Bristol last year, where he is a well-known figure. A video of the incident was widely shared on social media and made headlines around the world.
Supporters of Adunbi and Boddie packed into the courtroom in Salisbury. One of the alleged victim’s supporters wore a T-shirt with the slogan: “I am Judah.”
Friends of Adunbi expressed anger and surprise that the trial, before a senior district judge Tan Ikram, was being held in Salisbury, which is 60 miles from Bristol. They argue that justice should be done in the city where the incident took place.
The court was played footage from Boddie’s bodycam.
Suspecting that Adunbi was a wanted man, Boddie told him: “Hang on fella.” Adunbi could be heard telling the officers: “You are victimising me.”
Boddie said: “We are not victimising you. My colleague has explained to you that you look familiar.”
Adunbi said: “Don’t ask me any questions. I don’t give a damn. Go and find who you’re looking for ... I don’t wanna talk to you. I don’t wanna talk to you people because [inaudible] fucking around with black people. Why are you [inaudible] with a black man.”
Boddie said: “I’d like to know who you are.”
Adunbi told the officers: “I’m an African black individual living in my own city and you are coming around tommin [tormenting] me.” He said: “I’m gonna put you to sleep. I’m telling you now.”
At this point, Boddie drew her stun gun and said: “Right are you threatening, right this is a Taser. Listen fella, all right fella.”
Adunbi is heard saying: “You gonna Taser me, you gonna Taser me.”
Adunbi was told he looked like Royston McCalla, who they said was wanted by police. Adunbi was angry because he had been mistaken for McCalla before.
He said: “Me and my dog goin’ about my business and you draw Taser.” He added: “Leave me a-fucking-lone ... Listen, get out of my yard.”
Boddie discharged the stun gun and said: “Taser, Taser, Taser, you’ve been Tasered, OK, stay calm, all right. OK, you’re under arrest for section 5 of the Public Order Act, OK, and assault police. Cautioned.”
Adunbi repeatedly said: “I’m nearly 70 ... here’s my fucking ID.”