Sydney lawyer Sophie Holt charged with assaulting police

A Sydney lawyer repeatedly called out “I’m an officer of the court” as she was arrested over allegations she drunkenly kneed a police officer in the groin at the Vivid festival, a court has heard.

Sophie Holt is defending allegations of kneeing a police officer at Vivid in 2023. Picture: Damian Shaw

A Sydney lawyer accused of drunkenly kneeing a police officer in the groin at Sydney’s Vivid festival asked the constable if he was going to tase her “like the old lady in Cooma”, a court has heard.

Senior Constables Ben Richardson and Tamir Shevret detained Sophie Holt on May 26 last year due to her alleged intoxication, following an encounter outside The Argyle in The Rocks.

Holt was charged with assaulting police after she allegedly kneed Sen Con Richardson in the groin as he attempted to handcuff her due to his concern she would run away again.

A court has heard the officers initially recommended Holt, 38, go home with her friends, before she allegedly ran away from them.

“She was slurring, unsteady on her feet, unbalanced, clearly showing signs of being intoxicated,” Sen Con Shevret said.

“We were trying to say we just want to get you home safe.”

Sophie Holt (right) with her solicitor Paul McGirr. Picture: Damian Shaw

Police bodyworn footage shows Sen Con Shevret attempting to phone Holt’s friends to come and get her as Sen Con Richardson attempted to detain Holt.

“I don’t think I took off … Mr Benjamin, can you confirm whether I’m on camera or not?” Holt asks in the footage.

“You’re too intoxicated, you walked into three walls and bounced off three people, you’re still slurring your speech,” Sen Con Richardson responds after confirming his body camera is on.

“You don’t have anyone to take you home, you’re not suitable to go home by yourself.”

“I’m not sure that’s what you’re authorised to do,” Holt says.

Sen Con then warns Holt she is getting handcuffed because she is “too drunk”.
“Don’t kick him, and don’t knee me in the nuts again or you’re going to get charged,” Sen Con Richardson continues.

“I don’t f--king care,” Holt responds before Sen Con Richardson tells her she is under arrest for assaulting police.

“I’m going to remind you that I’m an officer of the court.”

Sophie Holt (right) with her solicitor Paul McGirr. Picture: Damian Shaw

During the first day of the hearing in May before Magistrate Kasey Pearce at Downing Centre Local Court, Holt’s solicitor Paul McGirr questioned Sen Con Richardson about his perception of Holt’s intoxication.

“She’s done quite a large stumble, almost like a newborn giraffe trying to find her feet,” Sen Con Richardson said.

“She stumbled, hit the wall with her back, then put her hand out to recalibrate, then leaned up against the wall with her shoulder.”

“Are you sure you’re not trying to gild the lily – make her appear more intoxicated by adding all this detail that you haven’t put in your statement?” Mr McGirr asked.

“No, she was clearly intoxicated at the time,” Sen Con Richardson responded.

Sen Con Richardson said he was “disgusted” by Holt saying words to the effect of “I don’t want to be tasered like the old lady”.

It is agreed Holt was referring to an incident nine days earlier, in which 95-year-old Clare Nowland was tasered by a NSW Police officer at a Cooma nursing home and later died.

Officer Kristian White has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in relation to that matter.

“I was disgusted, by the comment, not by her actions,” Sen Con Richardson said.

Sophie Holt. Picture: Damian Shaw

Mr McGirr then suggested the knee to his groin might have been an accident.

“It looked deliberate, because it was a raised knee,” Sen Con Richardson said.

“I stand quite tall next to your client and it wasn’t in the lower leg … I wasn’t sure if it was an accident or not but it appeared deliberate to me.”

During cross-examination, Mr McGirr has repeatedly questioned whether police were acting within their legislated powers during Holt’s arrest.

The hearing continues before Ms Pearce.