Latrell Mitchell’s lawyer says the fullback’s “extraordinary strength” might have saved his life when he was arrested outside a Canberra nightclub in February.
The South Sydney superstar pleaded with police to ease up in their treatment of him and cried in pain after being arrested for an alleged fight with his cousin Jack Wighton.
Both have since beaten charges relating to the incident, Magistrate Jane Campbell dismissing them on Wednesday morning.
But Mitchell’s lawyer Tom Taylor said the treatment of the duo was a cautionary tale, wondering if accused people with less resources might have ended up in jail.
Mitchell, a Birpai and Wiradjuri man, could be heard on police camera footage screaming “because I’m a blackfella” as officers elbowed and kneed him while he appeared to be complying with their requests.
Mr Taylor said there was a “sobering reality” to how the NSW and Australia representative star was treated.
“Three to four grown men forced themselves on top of him … but for his extraordinary strength, he might not have survived – any other person could have died,” he told reporters outside court.
“He was told to get on his knees – he complied … there was absolutely no need by police to use the level of force Mr Mitchell endured, no person should be subjected to the treatment.”
Indigenous people are 17 times more likely to be arrested than non-Indigenous people and are jailed at 14 times the rate of non-Indigenous adults, Mr Taylor pointed out.
“We know Indigenous people are dying in custody, we know Indigenous people are more likely to be arrested … we need to do better as a community,” he told reporters.
“What if Mr Mitchell was convicted for resisting police officers … when he was brutally taken to the ground and subjected to inhumane treatment? Mr Mitchell and Mr Wighton might have become further sad statistics.”
The case was pulled after a key police witness admitted he falsified evidence in the prosecution of the high-profile duo.
Canberra CEO Don Furner said it was likely not the last ACT Police or the DPP had heard about the matter, as lawyers flagged potential civil action.
“They weren’t treated like normal members of society. They were targeted because they were NRL players and (police thought) they could make a name for themselves,” he told reporters.
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
How Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell beat cop charges
TIMELINE OF CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST LATRELL MITCHELL AND JACK WIGHTON
* On February 5, Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton is out celebrating his 30th birthday with friends and family, including his cousin and South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell
* Wighton is kicked out of Canberra nightclub Fiction by police for alleged aggressive behaviour
* Wighton and Mitchell then allegedly fight and are both arrested afterward, with the latter heard crying out in pain while being detained by police
* Mitchell is charged with affray, fighting in a public place and resisting arrest
* Wighton is charged with fighting in a public place and refusing to comply with an exclusion direction
* On February 22, both plead not guilty to all charges
* On October 30, Sergeant David Power tells their hearing he saw Wighton with clenched fists, anger in his face, grabbing another man in the nightclub before he removed him
* On October 31, Wighton’s lawyer Steve Boland plays previously unreleased CCTV footage that proves Sgt Power’s observations had not happened
* Sgt Power admits he has given false evidence and that police had a “roundtable” meeting to get their story straight after arresting the men
* On November 1, prosecutor Sam Bargwanna decides not to give any more evidence and Magistrate Jane Campbell dismisses the charges
