NSW Police charge teen with allegedly shining torch in officer’s face
Updated ,first published
An 18-year-old man has been granted bail after allegedly shining a torch in the face of a police officer at Sydney Police Headquarters in Surry Hills, where demonstrators gathered on Tuesday night to protest the police response to a protest in the CBD against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday.
18-year-old Duke Austin was arrested for allegedly shining a torch in the face of police officers monitoring the demonstration while attending the protest in Harmony Park next to the police station.
austin, A high school graduate from Bondi was taken to Surry Hills police station and charged with three counts of assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty without causing actual bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place. He remained in custody ahead of a bail hearing on Wednesday.
Images taken by Nine News It shows a protester shining a torch into the eyes of an officer in front of a police station. The police officer talks to the protester and signals him to stop. He is then taken away by nearby police officers and removed from the meeting.
Austin spoke only when Judge Daniel Covington asked him to confirm his identity at the beginning of Wednesday’s bail hearing. Wilson Tighe, the attorney representing him, called it “pretty surprising” that the prosecution opposed granting bail for Austin.
“There is a legitimate claim that lighting a torch at a police officer constitutes assault,” Tighe told the court. “There is a lively debate about the manner in which he was charged.”
Wayne Law, representing the prosecution, found there was an increased risk from Israeli President Isaac Herzog continuing to tour the country, arguing that Austin would endanger police officers if released on bail.
Stating that the case against Austin is strong, Law said, “The defendant voluntarily and intentionally engaged in anti-police behavior while holding a torch to three police officers performing lawful duties in the park.”
“The irony is that the protest is against allegations of police brutality, but he is the one committing violent behavior at this protest.”
The prosecution told the court that Austin was carrying four two-centimetre knives in a container, which was found by police in his backpack after he was searched.
Covington released Austin on bail, stating that he had a clean record and a permanent address. He said there was “no realistic prospect” of a custodial sentence for the charges if proven and that, if proven, the crime would fall to the “lower end” of objective seriousness.
The judge rejected Law’s motion to ban Austin from attending demonstrations organized by the Palestine Action Group over the next two days while Herzog remains in Australia. The case will next be heard at the Downing Center on February 25.
Hundreds of protesters had gathered in Surry Hills to demonstrate against Herzog’s visit to Australia and claim police brutality on Tuesday evening. Some demonstrators held signs saying “globalize the intifada”, which the NSW government aims to ban with the introduction of new hate speech laws.
Tensions rose towards the end of the protest, as demonstrators chanted anti-police slogans and police officers formed a line to guard the building. Rally organizers attempted to direct protesters away from police and called for the demonstration to end peacefully before calling for the crowd to disperse.
Around 20:00, as the crowd was decreasing, the police helicopter circled around the park. The show ended without any major incident.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna slammed the “hostile behavior and provocation” displayed by some protesters and praised the “coolness” shown by frontline officers.
“Police continued to carry out their duties responsibly and respectfully, even when faced with coercive behavior and, in some cases, deeply troubling behavior from individuals within the council,” he said.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon also praised the actions of officers on Tuesday; police officers responded to demonstrators who “genuinely wanted to provoke the police, call the police, and openly protest.” He said the anti-police chants heard at the rally were unacceptable.
Lanyon told 2GB on Wednesday morning: “This is a time for calm and I find it extremely disturbing that people are deliberately going there to provoke the police.”
“People don’t always support what the police do, but we have a role to protect the community. We prevent crime, we protect the community. We take this job seriously.”
Lanyon pledged to review the officers’ actions at Monday night’s City Hall rally and promised that each officer would be held “accountable for their actions.”
He echoed the challenge police faced at City Hall as police desperately tried to separate protesters from the audience gathered for Herzog’s speech at the nearby International Convention Center (ICC).
Visitors are asked to remain at the ICC for 30 minutes after the end of the event. Lanyon said it “may be unsafe” for mourners to leave while the “volatile” protest continues and police balance “competing interests.”
Lanyon appealed for calm as Herzog continued his visit to Australia. Israel’s president will be in Canberra on Wednesday, where a significant police presence is being prepared ahead of expected protests.
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously ran The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s national news live blog.Connect via email.
