The pathologist at the heart of the decision not to prosecute over the death of a man at the G20 protests should not have been registered to investigate suspicious deaths.

Dr Freddy Patel, 63, appeared on a Home Office register despite failing to meet its criteria, the BBC has learned.

Ian Tomlinson collapsed and died minutes after being pushed by a police officer. Dr Patel said he died from coronary artery disease.

But two other doctors disagreed.

Instead, they concluded that newspaper seller Mr Tomlinson, 47, had suffered internal bleeding, probably from his own elbow hitting his liver after he was pushed to the ground.

In July, the Crown Prosecution Service said it could not bring a charge of manslaughter against PC Harwood due to the conflict in evidence.

The Home Office Register of Forensic Pathologists is a list of doctors accredited by the Home Office to perform post-mortem examinations in cases of suspicious death.

To appear on the register, a pathologist must work alongside other pathologists as part of a group practice and they must have an official arrangement to work for at least one police force in England and Wales.

Dr Patel’s practice has not had an arrangement with any police force since 2004 and he has not worked as part of a group practice since 2006.

See the full story at BBC News.