Civil Law, Assault, Sue Police

Police Officer Charged With Assault in Relation To Hannah Thomas’ Arrest

We published the following media update after news broke that an officer had been charged over the assault of our client Hannah Thomas. Miss Thomas lawyer, our Principal Solicitor, Peter O’Brien, made the following comment for the media:

“We are pleased to see that a police officer has been charged in connection with the serious assault of Hannah Thomas. A civil action will be filed imminently in relation to what we allege was a cowardly, gratuitous and compensable act of violence by a serving NSW Police Officer.

We will also be prosecuting a case against the State of NSW on the basis that the charges brought against Ms Thomas amounted to a malicious prosecution, and that the decision to pursue such baseless and groundless charges also constituted a misfeasance in public office conducted by NSW Police.

It was of real and stark concern that the immediate response by the leadership of NSW Police in the immediate aftermath of Ms Thomas’ injury being sustained was that officers had done nothing wrong, despite clear and objective evidence to the contrary. Ms Thomas’ injuries remain extremely serious, and her long-term prognosis is still unknown.

The senseless violence and ruthless conduct of police towards this small group of peaceful protesters, including Ms Thomas is a sharp indictment on the way in which government and police are manoeuvring to criminalise and suppress protest and dissent in this state: this is of significant concern for all interested in the preservation of democracy in NSW.”

– Peter O’Brien, O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors.

9News reported on the story with an interview from Peter O’Brien.