Goulburn police officer convicted of assaulting Indigenous teen
A police officer whose disturbing assault on an Indigenous teen in his custody was captured on CCTV remains on the beat, despite being convicted of the assault in court. WATCH THE SHOCKING FOOTAGE
Police & Courts
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A police officer who assaulted an Indigenous man while in his custody last year is still on the frontline despite being convicted of the crime earlier this week.
Senior Constable Jeames Iain Murray, 38, was found guilty of two counts of common assault on Tuesday at Goulburn Local Court after police cameras captured him assaulting 18-year-old Patrick Little on January 12 last year, the ABC reports.
Little was arrested by Murray and another officer after fighting with his cousin outside a club in Goulburn and later pleaded guilty to affray over the incident.
Goulburn Local Court heard Little was aggressive to police but calmed down when he was taken into custody and put in the police wagon.
CCTV footage of the incident shown on ABC’s 7:30 program showed Murray grab Little by the scruff of his neck after he gets out of the wagon before slamming him into the police station wall face first.
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He then puts Little in a headlock before marching him into the station and throwing him against a door, before dragging the teenager into a cell by his arm.
Little kicks the door but then is seen throwing his hands up in front of his face as Murray advances, before pulling back and slamming the door shut.
Murray was charged in October 2019 after an internal investigation sparked by a complaint in April the same year, and kept his job on “restricted duties” for more than a year despite the charges.
The ABC reports the senior constable pleaded not guilty throughout court proceedings, and said the force used to subdue Little was proportionate due to ongoing resistance not seen on camera.
Shift supervisor Sergeant Jeff Morgan said Murray told him “I might’ve stuffed up” in a statement tendered to the proceedings.
Magistrate Susan McGowan found the 38 year-old officer guilty on both counts, calling the recount he gave “inconsistent” with CCTV footage.
“He did stuff up that evening, and I think he knew it,” Magistrate McGowan said in her judgment.
“He was the adult and unfortunately he reacted in a way that was not appropriate, as I’ve found … there’s no circumstance where this was warranted”.
Murray was fined $3500 with a conviction recorded, but continues to serve at Goulburn Police Station.
A statement from NSW Police said the matter had been dealt with but Murray’s employment remained under review.
“This matter relates to an incident in January 2019 that has now been dealt with in court,” the statement said.
“The officer remains on restricted duties; his employment status is currently under review.”