Overview

• Two Sussex Police officers, PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto, denied charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Donald Burgess, a 93-year-old care home resident.
• The incident occurred in June 2022 at a care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, where Burgess allegedly threatened staff with a knife.
• Both officers used a Taser, pepper spray, baton, and handcuffs on Burgess, who died three weeks later in hospital.
• An Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation concluded the police actions did not contribute to Burgess' death.
• The case has been forwarded to Southwark Crown Court, with a hearing scheduled for May 23.