Glenn Dawson not guilty of assaulting Bridgenorth player | Examiner

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A Tasmanian police officer was acting in self-defense when he hit a football opponent by breaking his jaw in 2019, a Launceston magistrate has found. Glenn Dawson, 30, who played for Bracknell was found not guilty of common assault against Bridgenorth player Zachary Griffiths during a football game in Bridgenorth on July 6, 2019. Constable Dawson pleaded not guilty and Magistrate Sharon Cure heard testimony from a dozen officials. and players from both football clubs, most of whom were within 10 to 20 meters of the incident. He was charged after an internal Tasmanian Police investigation but remained operational. Ms Cure said much of the evidence in the case was not controversial. Mr. Griffiths, a teacher, testified that he was attempting to score when Constable Dawson made frontal contact with a boot up to the ribs. He was upset that he had not been given a free kick and approached Mr. Dawson to push him to the chest. “He said he intended to apply force, but did not admit that he had a closed fist,” Ms. Cure said. She said Constable Dawson testified that he went to spoil the mark and fell to the ground and looked up and saw an angry man with a clenched fist. He testified that he felt an impact on both of his arms and that his goal was to defend himself. In her findings, Ms Cure said Mr Griffiths had moved several yards past the balloon to scold Constable Dawson. READ MORE: Hodgetts shot down in Paralympic controversy “Mr Griffiths pushed and pushed him at least twice and the accused hit with an upward motion,” she said. “I do not find that he [Constable Dawson] was standing at the time. He acted in self-defense and the force used was reasonable in all the circumstances. She said football was a tribal game and the evidence varied between the two groups of witnesses. A six-week gap between the incident and the taking of statements by police contributed to the disparity. Our reporters work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content:

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A Tasmanian police officer was acting in self-defense when he hit a football opponent by breaking his jaw in 2019, a Launceston magistrate has found.

Glenn Dawson, 30, who played for Bracknell was found not guilty of common assault against Bridgenorth player Zachary Griffiths during a football match in Bridgenorth on July 6, 2019.

Bracknell footballer Glenn Dawson.

He was charged after an internal Tasmanian Police investigation but remained operational.

Ms Cure said much of the evidence in the case was not controversial.

Mr. Griffiths, a teacher, testified that he was attempting to score when Constable Dawson made frontal contact with a boot up to the ribs.

He was upset that he had not been given a free kick and approached Mr. Dawson to push him to the chest.

“He said he intended to apply force, but did not admit that he had a closed fist,” Ms. Cure said.

He testified that he felt an impact on both of his arms and that his goal was to defend himself.

In her findings, Ms Cure said Mr Griffiths had moved several yards past the balloon to scold Constable Dawson.

“Mr. Griffiths pushed and shoved him at least twice and the accused struck with an upward motion,” she said.

“I do not find that he [Constable Dawson] was standing at the time. ”

He acted in self-defense and the force used was reasonable in all the circumstances.

She said football was a tribal game and the evidence varied between the two groups of witnesses.

A six-week gap between the incident and the taking of statements by police contributed to the disparity.

Our reporters work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content: