Tasmania police officer Oliver Smith on trial for assault of Bad Mother F**ker member Roger Compain

A Tasmanian police officer is on trial for knocking out an alleged Bad Mother F**ker outlaw gang member during a standoff where he fired an arrow at officers while wearing a gas mask.

Roger Charles Compain. Photo: FILE

A TASMANIAN police officer charged with assault for allegedly punching and knocking out a highly-aggressive man bragged he had delivered the “best hook” of his life, a court has heard.

Constable Oliver Smith has pleaded not guilty to the charge and a hearing is under way in the Devonport Magistrates Court.

Police had arrived at a house in Penguin on January 29 this year after a woman rang triple-0 to report her son Roger Compain was having a schizophrenic episode.

Constable Smith’s lawyer Greg Richardson told the court Mr Compain was well-known by police and allegedly a member of outlaw outfit The Bad Mother F**ker MC.

Oliver James Smith (back right) outside Devonport Magistrates Court facing assault charges.

On this day, the court heard Mr Compain was armed with a bow and arrow and fired a shot at police when they arrived.

A police witness then told the court that negotiation attempts were failing and Mr Compain threatened to kill the officers there.

Mr Compain was wearing a gas mask.

He jumped into a Hilux, the court was told, and reversed.

The court was told Constable Smith then smashed the ute’s window before Mr Compain sped off.

His vehicle was spiked on the Bass Highway and Compain was arrested.

It is alleged Constable Smith punched Mr Compain to the head when he had already been disarmed and hit with capsicum spray.

Body worn camera footage shows Constable Smith also calling Mr Compain a “bow and arrow dog” and that he had “knocked him out. It’s the biggest hook I’ve ever done.”

PM UPDATE:

Later in the trial, the prosecution told the court the emergency police call out to Mr Compain’s house in Penguin soon escalated from a mental health welfare check to a potential deadly situation in which police officers had weapons drawn.

Constable Smith’s lawyer Greg Richardson told Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason the officer had no time for calm and thoughtful deliberation in the situation.

Compain had shot an arrow at a police officer in the driveway of the home before he took off and was spiked on the Bass Highway.

He was still armed when he got out of the car.

Constable Smith said in evidence he used his body weight to remove the bow and arrow.

Both Const. Smith and Mr Compain ended up on the ground.

Constable Smith got to his feet and saw Mr Compain rise to his knees.

The officer then punched him to the right of the head with force, knocking him back down to the ground.

The prosecution told the court Constable Smith’s actions were excessive in a situation where Mr Compain was no longer armed.

The court was told other officers at the scene had holstered their guns after Mr Compain was disarmed.

Magistrate Geason will deliver her verdict on January 20 next year.