Lawyer claims NRL player Dylan Walker is being targeted by police
The lawyer for the fiancee of Dylan Walker said the Manly Sea Eagles star is “clearly being targeted” by police because of his profile as a rugby league player. It comes as police press on with applying for an AVO despite Alex Ivkovic wanting it dropped.
NSW
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Police have been accused of targeting Manly Sea Eagles star Dylan Walker over domestic violence proceedings just because he is a high-profile footballer.
His fiancee’s lawyer, Greg Walsh, said it was six weeks since he wrote to police on her behalf to tell them Alex Ivkovic felt safe but they have not replied.
“Dylan Walker is being targeted because of his profile as a rugby league footballer, it's very clear," Mr Walsh claimed on Monday.
As police wait for advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions about whether an appeal can be lodged against the Magistrate's decision to acquit Walker of assaulting Ms Ivkovic, they will press ahead with applying for an apprehended violence order which she has told police she does not want.
Police sources said it was not up to Ms Ivkovic to drop the AVO application because it was police who were making the application. She may not even have to give evidence.
They made the application after being called to the couple's Dee Why home in December last year when they were satisfied there was enough evidence to take out an AVO and they "didn't need her agreement to do that", the source said.
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Mr Walsh said Ms Ivkovic was very upset. “This matter has been going on long enough and police should not use the profile of Mr Walker as a means of seeking to pressure to pressure Ms Ivkovic to return to court in circumstances where there is no community interest in doing so," Mr Walsh said.
“She has a very close and loving relationship with Dylan Walker and does not wish to be involved any further in any court proceedings.
“There is no necessity in the circumstances to protect her.”
“It is not uncommon for police to apply for AVOs on behalf of alleged victims if they believe the person is in any danger,” a police spokesman said on Monday night.
Walker was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault but Magistrate Michelle Goodwin said she could not be satisfied “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the assault had occurred.
She found the former NSW and Australian centre not guilty on May 10.
Legal sources said it was unlikely there were any grounds for an appeal except on a matter of law and unless it could be shown that the magistrate “totally misdirected herself as to how the law was”.
“It is extraordinary for the police to go down this track,” the legal source said.
Originally published as Lawyer claims NRL player Dylan Walker is being targeted by police
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