Michelle Bridges’ AVO case against photographer adjourned

THE lawyer acting for a paparazzo who snapped celebrity fitness trainer Michelle Bridges in a supermarket says it wasn’t illegal — and if celebrities don’t like pictures being taken “that’s bad luck”.

THE lawyer acting for a paparazzo who snapped celebrity fitness trainer Michelle Bridges in a supermarket says it wasn’t illegal — and if celebrities don’t like pictures being taken “that’s bad luck”.

Bridges did not appear in the Downing Centre local court on Wednesday morning where an application for an apprehended violence order against 20-year-old photographer Liam Mendes was heard.

His lawyer Chris Murphy told the court the application was based on a false belief of the law.

Bridges filed the AVO request after Mr Mendes filmed The Biggest Loser trainer as she shopped inside a Woolworths store in Sydney’s Kings Cross this week.

Mr Murphy said his client’s actions were “not illegal” and was only brought to her attention by someone else. After he and Bridges spoke, a Woolworths manager asked him to leave the store and he did so.

He told the magistrate the allegation was a “waste of court’s time” and abuse of the process by police, who filed the AVO on Bridges’ behalf.

He said the matter would be defended and asked for an adjournment so it could be heard.

An interim existing order was extended until the matter returns to court on June 8 which prevents Mr Mendes from approaching Bridges — although he would still be able to take pictures of her.

Mr Murphy indicated Mr Mendes would continue to do so.

Liam Mendes and his legal team arrive at Downing Centre. Picture: Media Mode

Michelle Bridges.

“You’re actually breaking the law,” Bridges says to Mr Mendes in footage from the incident which aired on A Current Affair.

“No I’m not,” protested the photographer, “there’s nothing illegal about it”.

“You’re breaking the law by filming me in a shop,” said Ms Bridges.

Outside court, Mr Murphy told news.com.au he hoped police would withdraw the application.

“It’s based on a mistake. The incident occurred at the Woolworths at Kings Cross. Ms Bridges has been filmed many time — in Kings Cross, and at Woolworths, and has put many photos of herself on Facebook I believe.”

He said Woolworths did not have a policy where you could not take photos.

He said Bridges confronted Mr Mendes and told him he was breaking the law.

“And from that confrontation these proceedings have arisen. He never broke any law, it’s almost restraint of trade to try and stop him taking photos the way you do.”

He said celebrities may not “like the law the way it is” but the media was “free to take photos whenever they like. If you don’t like the photos, that’s bad luck.”

Asked if Bridges had a right to go to the supermarket in peace and not be photographed he said: “She puts her own photograph on Facebook being in a supermarket shopping — when you're a celebrity the world owns you. Unfortunately, there’s no restraint of their trade.”

The matter will return to court on June 8.

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Originally published as Michelle Bridges’ AVO case against photographer adjourned