NSW admits police assault and false imprisonment of pro-Palestine protester Hannah Thomas
New South Wales has admitted in court documents that police officers assaulted pro-Palestine protester Hannah Thomas, punching her in the eye during a demonstration, and falsely imprisoned her. The state has agreed to pay her medical costs as part of the admission. The case highlights accountability issues in protest policing and the state's liability for officer misconduct.
Court documents reviewed by The Guardian reveal that the New South Wales state government has admitted to battery and false imprisonment in its defence against a civil lawsuit filed by Hannah Thomas, a former Greens candidate. According to the admission, a police officer punched Thomas in the eye while holding a torch during a pro-Palestine protest. The state has offered to pay her medical costs as part of the settlement discussions. However, the state has denied allegations of malicious prosecution and malfeasance in public office. The case represents a significant acknowledgment of police misconduct during protest policing and establishes the state's liability for damages to the protester.
What's missing
The specific date of the protest, the circumstances that led to the police response, the identity of the officer involved, the current status of the civil proceedings, and whether any disciplinary action has been taken against the officer are not provided in the available reporting.
What different sources said
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
Melissa Caddick’s widower says police tricked him over alleged Vaucluse assault
NSW admits pro-Palestine protester Hannah Thomas was assaulted by police officers and falsely imprisoned
- ABC AustraliaCenter
State government admits ex-Greens candidate battered by police officer
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