Justice for Matt Butcher
-
Author:
n/a -
Send To:
District Court of Western Australia
-
Sponsored By:
-
More Info at:
THE acquittal of a father and two sons on charges of bashing police in a brawl that left one partially paralysed has sparked a huge outcry, causing the West Australian police commissioner to warn of resignations from the force.
Shocked ... Constable Butcher leaves the court after the not guilty verdict.
Constable Matthew Butcher was paralysed down his left side last year, after trying to break up a brawl outside a tavern in Perth's northern suburbs involving Robert McLeod and his sons, Barry and Scott.
The McLeods - who were represented by top Melbourne silks Colin Lovett and Con Heliotis - were charged with several assaults against police but were acquitted of all those charges on Thursday.
The jury reached their decision after a six-week trial, during which they were shown mobile phone video footage of Barry McLeod hitting Constable Butcher from behind in what was described as a "flying headbutt".
The jury handed down a conviction on only one charge. This was against Scott McLeod, who was found to have threatened to kill a member of the public who filmed the brawl on his phone.
Scott was fined $4000 in the District Court yesterday. State Attorney-General Christian Porter, a former prosecutor, yesterday described the footage as one of the most horrific things he had seen in criminal justice.
Constable Butcher said the video was "the most cowardly thing" he had seen.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said he was "thoroughly disgusted" when he watched the footage, and he found it hard to believe no one was to blame for Constable Butcher being hit from behind.
See the video for yourself - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpo7R6fy7g4
The undersigned are petitioning for is:
1) An appeal of the findings of this court case
and
2) A review of the role of police officers within our community and the judicial system that is meant to support their efforts in providing a community environment where we all feel safe from such violent acts. The role of the judicial system and in particular the District Court of Western Australia.
Shocked ... Constable Butcher leaves the court after the not guilty verdict.
Constable Matthew Butcher was paralysed down his left side last year, after trying to break up a brawl outside a tavern in Perth's northern suburbs involving Robert McLeod and his sons, Barry and Scott.
The McLeods - who were represented by top Melbourne silks Colin Lovett and Con Heliotis - were charged with several assaults against police but were acquitted of all those charges on Thursday.
The jury reached their decision after a six-week trial, during which they were shown mobile phone video footage of Barry McLeod hitting Constable Butcher from behind in what was described as a "flying headbutt".
The jury handed down a conviction on only one charge. This was against Scott McLeod, who was found to have threatened to kill a member of the public who filmed the brawl on his phone.
Scott was fined $4000 in the District Court yesterday. State Attorney-General Christian Porter, a former prosecutor, yesterday described the footage as one of the most horrific things he had seen in criminal justice.
Constable Butcher said the video was "the most cowardly thing" he had seen.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said he was "thoroughly disgusted" when he watched the footage, and he found it hard to believe no one was to blame for Constable Butcher being hit from behind.
See the video for yourself - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpo7R6fy7g4
The undersigned are petitioning for is:
1) An appeal of the findings of this court case
and
2) A review of the role of police officers within our community and the judicial system that is meant to support their efforts in providing a community environment where we all feel safe from such violent acts. The role of the judicial system and in particular the District Court of Western Australia.
34 Signatures
-
Greg Carver
- Comments
- A massive in justice that needs to be fixed. Its a F***** Joke
- Suburb & State
- Darch W.A.
-
Jenny Milham
- Comments
- The whole justice system needs a serious overhaul.
- Suburb & State
- Mandurah, WA
-
Terry Mulkearns
-
Leigh van der Merwe
- Comments
- At least one person should be in jail for this
- Suburb & State
- Booragoon, WA
-
chris allen
- Suburb & State
- Melbourne
-
rebecca
- Suburb & State
- perth
-
Dawn Smith
- Comments
- I felt sick to my stomach when I saw the video footage.I still can't believe the verdict,as a wife of a serving officer who has recently joined WA police I now fear everytime he goes out on duty.I thought the justice system needed looking at back in the UK but it is just as bad here.WHAT will it take for things to change? May be a dead copper next time,it makes me sick that officers put their lives on the line to do a job and this is the thanks and support they get from the justice system.The cry of self defence needs looking at as more of our boys in blue get beaten!
- Suburb & State
- Baldivis,WA
-
Candice Stratton
- Comments
- I am tired of the lack of support for our State Police. The law does nothing to support them or other victims of such crimes.
- Suburb & State
- Rockingham
-
D. Schultze
- Comments
- The Butcher family deserve better than this disgraceful decision.
- Suburb & State
- WA
-
Tom Scott
-
Mick FLOOD
- Comments
- unacceptable
- Suburb & State
- NSW
-
Simon Beach
- Comments
- Outrageous and disgusting. Appeal IMMEDIATELY!
- Suburb & State
- Caroline Springs, Vic.
-
Peter Gavranich
- Comments
- What else can I do to help?
-
Joshua Stone
- Suburb & State
- Winthrop, Western Australia
-
James Notman
- Suburb & State
- Westen Australia
-
chris bridgham
- Suburb & State
- busselton wa
-
Tony Ellem
- Comments
- this decision is disgusting. shame on the courts. we should protect our cops
- Suburb & State
- NSW
-
Luke Mancini
- Suburb & State
- Waterford, Western Australia
-
Dylan
- Comments
- Sick Sick Sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Keryn Scott
- Suburb & State
- Mairehau, New Zealand
-
H SINCOCK
-
stephen woodward
-
Adelaide Burgess
- Comments
- This is poor judgement in the judicial system.
- Suburb & State
- TAUPO, NEW ZEALAND
-
Greg Burgess
- Comments
- Utterly disgusting behaviour from a middle aged man and 2 adult sons!!!
- Suburb & State
- TAUPO, NEW ZEALAND
-
Chris Young
- Comments
- The Judge is a disgrace and should resign
- Suburb & State
- Auckland New Zealand
-
CarolineDoube
- Suburb & State
- Hamilton, New Zealand
-
Roslyn Ruland
- Suburb & State
- Western Australia
-
Daniel
- Suburb & State
- Melbourne, Victoria
-
Jen Pederick
-
Patrick
- Comments
- McLeod low-life street vermin..police should have just shot them .
- Suburb & State
- Melbourne Vic
-
Alex Price
- Suburb & State
- Queensland - Petrie
-
Joshua Hills
- Suburb & State
- WA
-
Mario
- Comments
- Bring Justice to Matt Butcher
- Suburb & State
- California
-
Shane Telford
- Comments
- anyone who does that should be done for attempted murder
- Suburb & State
- WA
-
34
Signatures! - View Signatures
- Sign Petition