Police officer cleared of brutality while colleague found guilty
A jury has cleared a senior constable of police brutality after lawyers argued he and another officer were just doing their duty when they got embroiled in an alleged domestic dispute. His fellow officer was found guilty.
Police & Courts
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A Victorian senior constable has wiped away tears as a jury acquitted him — but found his fellow officer guilty — of police brutality.
Travis Woolnough and Ross Fowler were both on trial in the County Court charged with intentionally and recklessly causing injury and assault over an alleged attack on Brian Jackson in Frankston in February 2016.
Their lawyers had argued the pair were simply doing their duty when attempting to arrest Mr Jackson after being called to his house following reports of a domestic dispute.
After just two days of deliberations, the jury on Wednesday found Sen-Constable Woolnough not guilty on all charges.
They acquitted Sen-Constable Fowler on two charges, but found him guilty of recklessly causing injury, which carries a maximum jail term of five years.
CCTV played in court showed both policemen kicking and hitting Mr Jackson in what prosecutor Matt Fisher submitted was force beyond that required for an arrest.
Mr Fisher told the jury the two policemen were “not acting lawfully in the execution of their duties as members of Victoria Police”.
Mr Jackson also gave evidence during the trial describing how he was blasted in the face with pepper spray, repeatedly whacked with a baton and torch and became airborne when he was kicked to the chest.
He said he was never aggressive or violent towards the officers on the night, and was packing up his ute on their arrival as he had decided to leave his partner.
“All I’m trying to do is get my stuff and get my daughter and leave and they wouldn’t help,” Mr Jackson said.
Photos were shown to the jury of his injuries, including large bruises to his inner thigh and back.
The jury is understood to have convicted Fowler for his low act of striking Mr Jackson to the back as he was being led away in handcuffs by Sen-Constable Woolnough.
Fowler will face a plea hearing before being sentenced by judge Trevor Wraight at a later date.
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