Justice for Matt Butcher
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THE acquittal of a father and two sons on charges of bashing police in a brawl that left one partially paralysed has sparked a huge outcry, causing the West Australian police commissioner to warn of resignations from the force.
Shocked ... Constable Butcher leaves the court after the not guilty verdict.
Constable Matthew Butcher was paralysed down his left side last year, after trying to break up a brawl outside a tavern in Perth's northern suburbs involving Robert McLeod and his sons, Barry and Scott.
The McLeods - who were represented by top Melbourne silks Colin Lovett and Con Heliotis - were charged with several assaults against police but were acquitted of all those charges on Thursday.
The jury reached their decision after a six-week trial, during which they were shown mobile phone video footage of Barry McLeod hitting Constable Butcher from behind in what was described as a "flying headbutt".
The jury handed down a conviction on only one charge. This was against Scott McLeod, who was found to have threatened to kill a member of the public who filmed the brawl on his phone.
Scott was fined $4000 in the District Court yesterday. State Attorney-General Christian Porter, a former prosecutor, yesterday described the footage as one of the most horrific things he had seen in criminal justice.
Constable Butcher said the video was "the most cowardly thing" he had seen.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said he was "thoroughly disgusted" when he watched the footage, and he found it hard to believe no one was to blame for Constable Butcher being hit from behind.
See the video for yourself - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpo7R6fy7g4
The undersigned are petitioning for is:
1) An appeal of the findings of this court case
and
2) A review of the role of police officers within our community and the judicial system that is meant to support their efforts in providing a community environment where we all feel safe from such violent acts. The role of the judicial system and in particular the District Court of Western Australia.
Shocked ... Constable Butcher leaves the court after the not guilty verdict.
Constable Matthew Butcher was paralysed down his left side last year, after trying to break up a brawl outside a tavern in Perth's northern suburbs involving Robert McLeod and his sons, Barry and Scott.
The McLeods - who were represented by top Melbourne silks Colin Lovett and Con Heliotis - were charged with several assaults against police but were acquitted of all those charges on Thursday.
The jury reached their decision after a six-week trial, during which they were shown mobile phone video footage of Barry McLeod hitting Constable Butcher from behind in what was described as a "flying headbutt".
The jury handed down a conviction on only one charge. This was against Scott McLeod, who was found to have threatened to kill a member of the public who filmed the brawl on his phone.
Scott was fined $4000 in the District Court yesterday. State Attorney-General Christian Porter, a former prosecutor, yesterday described the footage as one of the most horrific things he had seen in criminal justice.
Constable Butcher said the video was "the most cowardly thing" he had seen.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said he was "thoroughly disgusted" when he watched the footage, and he found it hard to believe no one was to blame for Constable Butcher being hit from behind.
See the video for yourself - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpo7R6fy7g4
The undersigned are petitioning for is:
1) An appeal of the findings of this court case
and
2) A review of the role of police officers within our community and the judicial system that is meant to support their efforts in providing a community environment where we all feel safe from such violent acts. The role of the judicial system and in particular the District Court of Western Australia.
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