WA police officer not guilty of grievous bodily harm

A WA District Court jury this week found police Constable Jonathan Edwards not guilty of Grievous Bodily Harm.

The WA Police Union believes Constable Edwards should never have been charged and was simply doing his job effecting an arrest in the Perth suburb of Camillo, when force was required, in April 2015.

 Constable Edwards was assisting colleagues to apprehend a man who was wanted by police.

 Officers were trying to apprehend the offender when he fled from them and ran into a backyard, where he proceeded to light a fire.

Constable Edwards assisted officers to arrest the offender and used his knee to restrain the man. 

 WAPU President George Tilbury said the Union was astonished a charge of GBH was even considered, let alone preferred, after learning the facts of the case.

“The jury was quick to relieve our Member of the charge after a three-day trial. This adds weight to our argument that Constable Edwards was simply acting in the course of his duties and used reasonable force,” Mr Tilbury said.

“It has been two years of hell for Constable Edwards, and as the court found today, he did nothing wrong. 

“It is a shame the State has guidelines that apply to the general public about whether to charge them with a criminal offence, yet it seems increasingly obvious that this does not apply to police officers.

“We are extremely pleased Constable Edwards was acquitted, but we believe WA Police and the DPP were too quick to prosecute this officer for simply doing his job in a difficult and dynamic situation.”

Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers is proud to represent the Western Australia Police Union, and protect the rights and interests of its members who serve the community.