British police apologize for the murder of a former soccer player

LONDON – A British police chief wrote to apologize to the family of former professional soccer player Dalian Atkinson.

He died after a police officer pointed a stun gun at him and kicked him in the head. Agent Benjamin Monk was convicted of manslaughter in June and sentenced to eight years in prison for the 2016 death of Atkinson, 48.

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The former Aston Villa star died in hospital shortly after being arrested in Telford, central England.

Prosecutors said Monk used the stun gun on Atkinson for longer than normal and kicked him at least twice in the head.

The new West Mercia police force chief said in a letter that she was “deeply sorry” for Monk’s actions.