Shocking CCTV: Bouncers’ painful ‘gooseneck hold’ not ‘necessary’

One of the nation’s top indigenous affairs advisers has been cleared of assault after CCTV footage played in court showed the man being put into an excruciating “gooseneck hold” by five casino security staff and kneed to the ground.

A TOP Australian indigenous affairs adviser has been cleared of assault after a judge ruled he was put in an excruciating “goose neck hold” by five casino security staff and kneed to the ground for 25 minutes.

CCTV footage shows the former Prime Minister and Cabinet staffer “screaming in agony” as he cried “you’re breaking my arm” when five bouncers jumped on him at the Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns two years ago.

Queensland’s top District Court Judge Kerry O’Brien acquitted Cape York aboriginal affairs mentor Joshua Paterson, 49, who went to trial to clear his name after he was charged with assault.

A still from CCTV footage showing a man being grabbed by bouncers at a Cairns casino.

The court heard Mr Paterson admitted headbutting martial arts expert and security manager Allan Smither in self-defence when his arms were unexpectedly put in a “chicken wing” hold and his wrists in a “goose neck” lock on March 11, 2018.

Judge O’Brien said there was nothing in the footage to show “obvious aggressive body language” or “disruptive behaviour” by Mr Paterson when he asked security of the whereabouts of his friend as he walked out of the casino.

“He was making not unreasonable enquiries,” the Judge said, in his verdict handed down yesterday.

“The use of the wrist lock and the forcible involvement of several security staff represented greater force than was either necessary or reasonable.’’

Judge O’Brien ruled Mr Paterson “not guilty of assault” after the court heard he’d retaliated by head butting Mr Smither because he had “no other choice to save my arm from being broken”.

A still from CCTV footage showing a man being grabbed by bouncers at a Cairns casino.

The court heard the Cairns father-of-three suffered multiple grazes, bruising, and ongoing shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries while pinned down by three guards for 25 minutes before he was taken into police custody.

He’d suffered damage to “the soft tissues, the ligaments, tendons, bones, cartilage or nerves” and had a marked decrease in the range of motion of his left wrist, the court was told.

Mr Paterson had earlier been at a charity night to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation in honour of his late brother Dan.

No charges were laid against Mr Smither or the security staff.