We're just going to ignore the Jerome Lockett testimony then? It's linked in the article and in the legal documents themselves, it's well worth reading what he (a black man) wrote about his encounter with Christian Cooper (also a black man).

I am not a birder, but I am a dog walker. However the assertion 'no birder would do this' relies on the assumption everyone standing around in the countryside is a bird-watcher. And yes, it would take pre-meditation to do that, but here's what he said... in his own account... "Look, if you're going to do what you want, I'm going to do what I want, but you're not going to like it", and beckoned the dog toward him with a dog treat. I don't break the law without accountability. THAT phrase is my accountability. It is ambiguous enough to be a threat and would be dealt with as such. The accountability would be I would be arrested for assault and I would argue my response was reasonable and proportionate. Mr Cooper may have been quietly bird watching in the park, he might also have been the Boston Dog Strangler for all I know.... and I would've argued such in court, that his actions (threatening to feed my dog whilst saying 'I'm going to do what I want but you're not going to like it') - were provocation enough and ambiguous enough.

For the record though, once that punch had happened I wouldn't have beaten him to death. I wouldn't have called the full weight of the police force down upon him in a racist tirade. It would've been one and out. I'm not trying to excuse her behaviour - as you can see, I think she overstepped massively and deserved SOME of the comeuppance she received. However, I think the assumption of absolute innocence and utter guilt is a childish way to view this situation - which is exactly how it played out on social media.

Also, what sort of dog do you have? I've got you down as having something fluffy and fun but happy to be proved wrong.