Boozy Palmerston police station Christmas party leads to court
A POLICE officer charged with aggravated assault over a scrap at Monsoons nightclub stemming after a boozy Palmerston police station Christmas party was a no-show at court.
Crime and Court
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A POLICE officer charged with aggravated assault over a scrap at Monsoons nightclub following Palmerston police station’s boozy Christmas party was a no-show at court on Wednesday.
Deanna Sheree Mason’s lawyer Ray Murphy appeared on her behalf at Darwin Local Court, where she is facing a charge of aggravated assault.
Mason, 33, was in January issued with a notice to appear, although a police statement at the time incorrectly said she had been charged with common assault rather than aggravated assault.
The NT News first revealed in December that a group of five officers were under investigation after the off-duty confrontation with a member of the public.
The investigation included an allegation an officer had flashed her badge at the Mitchell St nightspot and requested a round of free drinks for herself and the group of four other officers she was with.
Police sources told the NT News a member of the public said to the officer words to the effect of, “hurry up and pay for your drinks, ya moll”, prompting the confrontation over which Mason has now been charged.
Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said at the time all five officers at the nightclub that night were under criminally investigation, although Mason was the only one to have been charged.
The officers have also been investigated under the force’s secretive internal disciplinary proceedings.
“Yeah, we have received a complaint, so my brief is our crime department are investigating that matter as a criminal investigation in relation to those five officers … in relation to behaviour at Monsoons,” Mr Kershaw said at the time.
Mason’s matter will return to court on March 29 for a directions hearing.
Judge Therese Austin granted Mr Murphy’s application for Mason not to appear at court in person if she is legally represented.
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