Two Sussex Police officers have been acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) in connection with their use of force on the 92-year-old in a care home in St Leonards-on-Sea on 21 June 2022.
The assault charges brought against PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto relate to the use of a Taser, PAVA spray and a baton on Mr Burgess. The officers stood trial between 19 and 28 May 2025 at Southwark Crown Court. The jury returned a not guilty verdict in respect of all counts of assault on 28 May 2025.
Niamh McLoughlin, Mavi Salvatori and Michael Oswald act for the family of Donald Burgess.
Read the press release in response to the verdict, here.
