Qld: Police watch dog shown new tape in bash case

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2001
Qld: Police watch dog shown new tape in bash case

BRISBANE, Dec 2 AAP - Queensland's police corruption watchdog has been handed a videotape
of the wounds suffered by a man allegedly bashed by a policeman with a wooden fence paling
after a high speed chase.

The Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) launched an investigation into the incident on
Pacific Highway last Thursday following the television airing of amateur footage.

The confrontation between the officer and 32-year-old Scott Andrew Paul after a 170kph
chase between Brisbane and the Gold Coast was shown on the evening news.

Paul, who allegedly threatened the officer with a knife, appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates
Court on Friday, charged with assaulting police, theft and dangerous driving.

His solicitor, Dan Sushames (Dan Sushames), released a tape he had taken showing Paul's
wounds yesterday before handing it to the CJC.

Civil libertarians have called for an urgent resolution of the investigation for both
the officer involved and Paul.

A CJC spokesman said the tape would be viewed by investigators but there was no time
limit on the probe.

"We are obviously getting it (the investigation) done as quickly as possible but you
can't put a timeline on these things," the spokesman said.

Mr Sushames claimed his client received two kicks to the eyes and a punch in the abdomen
while he was on the ground after the first alleged attack.

AAP ap/ph/br

KEYWORD: BRUTALITY

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