Charges dropped, contested for accused Pro-Palestine protesters at Land Forces Expo

Pro-Palestinian protesters who descended upon the Land Forces Expo have faced court with some accused offenders fighting charges and others having charges dropped.

Pro-Palestine protesters face court for ‘criminal scene’ at Land Forces Expo. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

A group of pro-Palestinian protesters who descended upon the Land Forces Expo last year have fronted court with some accused offenders fighting charges and others having theirs dropped.

Violence erupted between police and protesters outside the three-day Land Forces weapons exposition at the Melbourne Convention Centre in September, where rocks, horse manure, glass bottles and food-grade acid were hurled at police.

Accused Land Forces protester Will Egan-Griffiths appeared in court on Wednesday.

Will Egan-Griffiths contested his string of charges which included obstructing police and assaulting an emergency worker on duty.

Police allege Mr Egan-Griffiths allegedly threw a bottle filled with liquid at mounted police officers which also splashed on a police horse during the protest.

The court heard the liquid, which smelt of “urine and foul vomit”, was splashed on the police officers’ vest and uniforms.

The court heard the police officers were “terrified of the unknown substance” that caused a burning sensation.

Several horses and police officers were injured during the protest. Picture: William West

Police also alleged Mr Egan Griffiths obstructed officers from performing their duty while other protesters were being arrested.

CCTV footage played in court allegedly showed Mr Egan-Griffiths pulling the legs of another protester after police tackled him to the ground.

The prosecutor said police formed a line and asked the protesters to stand back, but Mr Egan Griffiths still ran into the crowd and when pulled away by the cops allegedly started hitting the police shields.

But Mr Egan Griffiths’ lawyer argued his client ran to the crowd because police were using “excessive force” when arresting the other protesters.

The prosecutor said force was used while making arrests because of the nature of the protests.

She said the protests were “no longer peaceful” as people were blocking roads and throwing objects at officers.

“This was a criminal scene,” she said.

Mr Egan-Griffiths’ matter was adjourned to April so he could obtain a psych report before a sentence indication.

Police made arrests after protesters confronted police outside the Land Forces 2024 arms fair in Melbourne on September 11, 2024. Picture: William West.

Ella Zentgraf, 26, also fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to one public nuisance charge.

In September last year during the Land Expo protest Zentgraf and her friend parked an unregistered 1999 Subaru on the Kings Way in the CBD blocking traffic.

When police attended they found Zentgraf’s arm to be concreted into the vehicle at the back seat where a Palestinian flag was mounted.

It took police more than five minutes to free the 26-year-old’s arm from the concrete before arresting her.

The court heard Zentgraf’s act halted and disrupted traffic.

“Our roads are used by members of the public and emergency workers … for 55 minutes there were many public resources needed to remove (Zentgraf and the car),” the prosecution said.

Ella Zentgraf was arrested by police after she was removed from the car. Picture: William West

Zentgraf’s lawyer said the reason his client was protesting was because she was “saddened” and “ashamed” about the firearms expo.

“The weapons being displayed at the expo were the same ones being used overseas. While she takes the responsibility to public nuisance and pleads guilty and is remorseful, my client is not a criminally minded person” he said.

“Her purpose was to fulfil her political view … she did not just do it for the sake of it.”

Zentgraf’s lawyer said she was a part-time cafe worker, was paid Centrelink and wanted to resume her degree in education.

The lawyer asked the court to consider a non-conviction with a fine but the prosecutors argued her actions warranted a conviction and community service.

Zentgraf’s matter was adjourned for sentencing next month.

Several other alleged protesters — including Jessica Gordon, Mark Anthony Mills, Emma Koster, Ishka Targett, Nicholas Robertson and Mirna El Aawar — had their matters adjourned.

All charges for Lachlan Booth, George Wood and Florin Douglas were dropped.