Official questions autopsy in G20 death

LONDON, April 11 (UPI) -- David Howarth, a member of the British Parliament, says he has concerns regarding the post mortem examination of a man who died during the G20 protests.

The British Liberal Democrats' justice spokesman said he was initially suspicious at the speed at which Dr. Freddy Patel, the Home Office pathologist, ruled that 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson died of natural causes at the protests, The Guardian reported Saturday.

"Who chose the first pathologist and how?" Howarth said. "When the first post mortem came out saying natural causes so soon after his death, I thought that was too quick."

Howarth has called for a full investigation into Tomlinson's death, which occurred April 1 when the newspaper seller was allegedly assaulted by at least one police officer. Patel ruled two days later Tomlinson had died of a heart attack.

Meanwhile, an unidentified source told The Guardian the man's body likely should have been referred to Forensic Pathology Services rather than Patel, who was reprimanded by the General Medical Council in 1999 for revealing a patient's medical history outside an inquest.