Butter knife that led cops to pepper-spray and Taser tragic amputee, 92, as he sat in wheelchair is pictured

Scottish Sun

22-05-2025

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THIS is the butter knife that led cops to pepper-spray and Taser a tragic amputee as he sat in his wheelchair, a court heard.
PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto are accused of assaulting Donald Burgess at Park Beck Residential Care Home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
6
Donald Burgess was clutching this knife when he was pepper-sprayed and Tasered
6
Donald Burgess was in his wheelchair when the police allegedly assaulted him
Credit: SUSSEX NEWS AND PICTURES
6
He died in hospital three weeks later from Covid
Credit: PA
6
PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto are accused of assault
Credit: PA
The officers had been called to the residence after the 92-year-old poked a worker in the stomach with a butter knife, jurors heard.
A picture has now been released of the knife, which was specially adapted so the pensioner could eat his food.
Bodycam showed Donald clutching the blade while sat in his wheelchair when Smith and Comotto entered his room.
PC Smith can be heard saying: 'Put it down mate. Come on, Donald, don't be silly.
"We can solve it without having to resort to this...Do as you're told."
He then "emptied all or almost all of his canister" of pepper spray in Donald's face, Southwark Crown Court was told.
The footage also showed Smith making his way towards the pensioner with his baton extended before striking him.
Comotto then deploys her Taser as Donald screams out in pain before the officers took the knife from him.
Jurors heard the pair used "unjustified and unlawful" force just 83 seconds into entering the one-legged pensioner's room.
The officers were later seen joking about the shocking incident, it was said.
In separate bodycam, Comotto is seen laughing and asking Smith: "Oh my God, is there any left in your can?"
Smith replies: "Probably not."
The court heard Donald suffered from multiple health conditions including diabetes and carotid artery disease.
He was taken to hospital after the incident and died 22 days later after contracting Covid.
Jurors heard police had been called to the care home on June 21, 2022, after Donald was seen poking a care worker in the stomach with a knife after flicking food at her.
He allegedly threatened staff with the blade and told them he would take plasure in murdering them.
Managers wheeled him back to his room and tried for 30 minutes to calm him down before calling 999.
The officers were dispatched under a grade one call, meaning it was treated as the highest level of emergency.
Jurors were told the care home specialised in support for people with dementia but Donald had been diagnosed with the disease.
Prosecutor Paul Jarvis KC said: "I want to make it clear - these defendants are not responsible for his death.
"He was an elderly gentleman who was unwell."
But he added: "The force used was unnecessary and excessive in the circumstances.
"The defendants assaulted Mr Burgess, causing actual bodily harm."
Smith, 51, denies two counts of assault by using Pava spray and a baton, and Comotto denies one charge of assault by discharging her Taser.
The trial continues.
6
Donald was first pepper sprayed by Smith
Credit: Central News