Dalian Atkinson death: Inquest to open on ex-Aston Villa star
The inquest of former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson will open tomorrow.
Mr Atkinson, aged 48, died after being struck by a police Taser outside his father's house in the Trench area of Telford on August 15.
Two West Mercia Police officers have been served with gross misconduct charges and are under criminal investigation following the incident. The investigation could last nine months.
Mr Atkinson, of Lichfield in Staffordshire, was suffering a number of health issues and had a weak heart at the time of his death, family members have revealed.
He went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance on his way to hospital and later died. The inquest on Mr Atkinson will be opened tomorrow at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.
It will be heard by senior coroner for Shropshire and Telford, John Ellery, and is due to get under way at 9.30am.
Mr Atkinson was a top-flight striker in the 1990s, starting his career at Ipswich Town then playing for Sheffield Wednesday and Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa. He scored 23 goals in 85 appearances for Villa between 1991 and 1995 before going on to play for teams including Turkish side Fenerbahce and Manchester City.
