Commissioner of Police v Webeck

[1982] AFPDT 3

JUDGMENT No. . * ? B ~ . ~ . e w J ..!%$S

IN TKE FEDERAL POLICE

No. 3 of 1982

DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL

THE COhIkIISSICONER OF POLICE .

against

SENIOR CONSTABLE KENNETH

PETER I E B E C K

IN THE MATTER of the Compl4ints

(Australian Federal Police) Act 1981

REASONS FOR DECISION	K E L L Y ,	3 .
24 AUGUST 1982

By n o t i c e da ted 31 Nay 1982 the Commissioner o f

P o l i c e o f t h e Aus t r a l i an Federa l P o l i c e i n s t i t u t e d proceedings

pu r suan t t o Regulation 19 o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Federq l P o l i c e

( D i s c i p l i n e ) Regulations a g a i n s t Sen ior Constable Kenneth

P e t e r	Webeck	( h e r e i n a f t e r c a l l e d	t h e	"off icer")	a l l e g i n g	t h a t
c o n t r a r y	t o t h e	prov is ions	o f p a r a . l 8 ( l ) ( d )	of	t hose	Regulat ions

he had been g u i l t y o f improper conduct i n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y

i n t h a t he on 2 1 May 1981 a t Lyneham i n t h e A u s t r q l i a n C a p i t a l

T e r r i t o r y , w h i l s t e f f e c t i n g t h e a r r e s t o f Glen Midhael

OvCal laghan, a s s a u l t e d t h e s a i d Glen Michael ovca:( laghan by

C1 throwing him a g a i n s t h i s motor veh ic l e .

I t became c l e a r du r ing t h e course o f eviii~dence be fo re

me	t h a t t h e proceedings had been	i n s t i t u t e d a s a	mesult of
a c t i o n taken by	t h e Commonwealth	Ombudsman	fo l lowing a
complaint made t o him by M r .	OICallaghan,	The n o t ~ i c e	o f
i n s t i t u t i o n o f proceedings	was	se rved upon	t h e o f f l i ce r on

9 June 1982. The Commissioner thought f i t t o d e t e l m i n e t h a t

t h e proceedings should be hea rd and determined by t h i s

T r ibuna l and i s sued t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n o t i c e under sub - s ,67 (2)

of t h e Complaints (Aus t ra l ian Federal Po l i ce ) A c t M981 ( t h e

c'

"Actw).	On	16 J u l y 1982 1 determined t h a t I	shoulld c o n s t i t u t e
t h e Tr ibuna l	f o r t h e purpose	o f hear ing	t h e proceedings	and

subsequent ly gave d i r e c t i o n s t h a t the hea r ing should t a k e

p l a c e on 11 August 1982.

When the mat te r came on t o be heard on t h a t day

t h e Commissioner was r ep re sen ted by Mr. A. Colefax whi le

t h e o f f i c e r was represen ted by Mr. S. Wilcox. No doubt t h e

d e l a y between the a l l e g e d breach by the o f f i c e r an$ t h e

i n s t i t u t i o n o f proceedings by t h e Commissioner is t o be

exp la ined by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Act was a s sen ted t o on 9 A p r i l

1981 bu t d i d no t come i n t o o p e r a t i o n u n t i l 1 May 1982.

Mr. OVCallaghan gave ev idence t h a t on t:he a f t e rnoon

o f 21 May 1981 he went t o t he home of a f r i e n d , Ian Bryant,

where he bought some b o t t l e s of beer and drank them a t a p lace s t a y e d f o r a while. Subsequent ly he and M r . Bryant

d e s c r i b e d as " the horse paddocks".	Mr.	OVCallaghhn drank
f o u r l a r g e b o t t l e s o f beer.	I t i s n o t c l e a r how	*any

M r .	Bryant drank bu t I am	s a t i s f i e d t h a t by dusk	$hat
evening,	a t t h e time o f the e v e n t s w i t h which	I	a@ concerned,
each was	showing	t h e e f f e c t s of	t h e consumption o f a lcohol

i n approximately t he same degree .

Late i n t h e a f te rnoon o f t h a t day M r . OYICallaghan

and M r . Bryant decided t o go t o t h e home of a f r i e n d , Rohan

Bolas , a t Dunsmore S t r e e t , Lyneham. M r . 0' Callaghbn drove

C

and a r r i v e d i n the s t r e e t o u t s i d e M r . BolasV home a t about

dusk. Dunsmore S t r e e t , which i s t h e Canberra end o f t h e

Barton Highway, runs i n a g e n e r a l n o r t h - w e s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n

from Northbourne Avenue and M r . Bolas ' home i s s i t b a t e d some

s h o r t d i s t a n c e from the junc t ion o f t he two s t r e e t $ and on

t h e n o r t h - e a s t e r n s i d e of Dunsmore S t r e e t . M r . oV6a l l aghan

a t tempted t o s t o p h i s c a r on t h e sou th-wes te rn s i d e of

Dunsmore S t r e e t almost oppos i t e t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e Bolas

home. I n doing s o he pu l l ed t o t h e s i d e o f t h e r o l d bu t

a p p a r e n t l y misjudged the width o f t h e g r a v e l shoulder f o r

t h e c a r s l i d down a wet g rassed embankment a d j a c e n t t o t h e

g r a v e l shou lde r i n t o a d i t c h some 3 ' -4 ' deep. I aq s a t i s f i e d

on a l l t h e evidence t h a t t he c a r s l i d complete ly o f ~ f t h e

g r a v e l shou lde r and t h a t Mr. O'Callaghan was mistaken when

he gave ev idence t h a t the two o f f s i d e wheels o f t h e c a r

M r . Bryant l e f t t.be c a r

remained on t h e grave l shoulder .

t o go t o Mr. Bolas' home. Mr. O'Callaghan dozed and when almost

a s l e e p was	awakened by	t h e o f f i c e r who was	mounted	on a
motorcycle.	M r .	OVCallaghan s a i d t h a t when	asked by	the

o f f i c e r what he was	going t o do he r e p l i e d t h a t h+ was	going
t o s l e e p .	He	enqui red whether he had done any th ihg wrong

and t h e o f f i c e r r e p l i e d t h a t t h e r e had been an a c c i d e n t repor ted .

Someone came t o a nearby fence d e s c r i b e d by Mr.

OICallaghan a s **a couple of f e e t away1*. The o f f i c e r l e f t

t h e c a r and went over t o t a l k t o t h a t person, M r . OfCal laghan

then g o t o u t o f t h e c a r and walked ac ros s t h e road i n t e n d i n g

t o go home. A s he walked he took ou t a c i g a r e t t e b u t found

t h a t he had	no means	o f	l i g h t i n g i t ,	He	r e t u r n e d t o h i s c a r ,
looked unsucces s fu l ly	f o r a box	o f	matches	o r a	c i , g a r e t t e

l i g h t e r and then used t h e c a r l i g h t e r . He gave elvidence l

t h a t he then g o t o u t o f t h e c a r and was s t a n d i n g by it p u f f i n g

on h i s c i g a r e t t e . He desc r ibed what happened t h e n i n t h e

fo l lowing	words,
'*A p o l i c e o f f i c e r walked round - I d i d n p t s e e
where he was - came around and threw m e p g a i n s t t h e c a r and t o l d me. t o s t a y the re . . I had my
back t o him, he s o r t o f grabbed me on t h e
shoulder and tu rned me around and threw tne a g a i n s t
t h e ca r . I am n o t s u r e where h i s hands k e r e o r
how he threw me."

H e s a i d t h a t Efr. Bryant then came upon the s cene a ~ d s a i d t o

t h e o f f i c e r , "Keep your hands o f f " o r words t o t h a t e f f e c t . l

Mr. Bryant desc r ibed the i n c i d e n t . He w$s on t h e

o p p o s i t e s i d e of	t he	roadway	nea r	t h e beginning	o f	t h e	driveway
l

i n t o t h e Bolas res idence . He had become aware o f t h e presence

o f a p o l i c e o f f i c e r i n t h e v i c i n i t y and had e a r l i e t s een

M r . O'Callaghan on t h e n o r t h - e a s t e r n s i d e o f Dunsmbre S t r e e t .

As he r e tu rned t o Dunsmore S t r e e t he saw t h a t Mr. OICallaghan 1

H e s a i d t h a t he then saw t h e o f f i c e r grab

was back i n h i s c a r . l

M r . OICallaghan and throw him a g a i n s t t he c a r . H e s a i d t h a t

immediately p r i o r t o t h i s M r .	OtCallaghan had	beeh	" f a c i n g
i n h i s car".	By	t h i s I unders tood him t o have meiant	t h a t

M r .	OICallaghan was	s t a n d i n g	o u t s i d e o f	the	c a r b p t	r each ing
i n s i d e i t wi th a	good	d e a l	of	h i s body wi th in	t h e c a r o r ,	a t

t h e l e a s t , p a r t of h i s body w i t h i n t he car . I n any e v e n t

M r . Bryant gave evidence t h a t a t t he moment he grgbbed Mr.

OICallaghan t h e o f f i c e r was	behind him.	He	r e j e c t e d a
sugges t ion	i n c ross -examina t ion	t h a t M r .	OfCallaghan h i t t h e

c a r backwards and s t a t e d t h a t h e went frontwards. H e e l a b o r a t e d o n

t h i s by saying t h a t M r . OICal laghan would have had a ve ry s o r e

C back if he went back on t h e c a r . He d i d no t s e e Mr. OICal laghan

t u r n e d round by t h e o f f i c e r before he was thrown $ g a i n s t t h e

c a r . He gave no evidence o f having s a i d "Keep your hands o f f "

o r words t o t h a t e f f e c t t o t h e o f f i c e r .

M r . Rohan Bolas gave evidence about t he i n c i d e n t .

H e s a i d t h a t he saw M r . OtCal laghan a t t r a f f i c c o q t r o l l i g h t s

a t t h e j unc t ion o f Dunsmore S t r e e t and Northbourne Avenue and

then saw him swing round and come back towards h i s c a r .	I
quo te from h i s evidence:-

"He [Mr. OICal laghan] walked back across5 t h e

Barton Highway [Dunsmore S t r e e t ] t o h i s car

t o g e t a l i g h t f o r h i s c i g a r e t t e and g o t i n t o

t h e c a r t o g e t one and t h e policeman	cane
ac ros s t o t h e c a r and they spoke and	t h e
policeman	g o t t h e keys o f t he c a r and walked

o f f back t o h i s motorbike and Glen wante~d t h e

keys back. The policeman would no t g i v e them

back and t h a t is when we walked over and I

t h ink t h a t i s when	he go t pushed up	agailnst	t h e
c a r .

I walked from t h e top of our driveway aclross

t o where t h e c a r was. . . . I saw the poli~ceman

grab Mr. OfCal laghan frontwards and push him

backwards i n t o t h e car ."

Asked what p a r t of M r . O t C a l l a g h a n f s body came intlo c o n t a c t

There was then , he

w i t h t h e c a r , he r e p l i e d , "Lower back".

s a i d , a l o t o f argument.	He	descr ibed Mr.	Bryant a s drunk
and Mr.	O 'Cal laghants cond i t i on a s about t h e same,	He	meant

t h a t each was obviously a f f e c t e d by l i q u o r b u t no$ t o t a l l y

drunk. He f i x e d t h e time when t h e o f f i c e r pushed M r . OICallaghan

a s t h a t when M r . OICallaghan g o t back t o t h e c a r and g o t i n

and then g o t o u t t o g e t t h e keys	of	h i s c a r back.	H e	agreed
t h a t a t t h e	t i m e M r .	OtCallaghan was	pushed he was	s t a n d i n g

on t h e wet g r a s s y s lope . Under cross-examinat ion he mainta ined

t h a t t h e o f f i c e r had grabbed M r . O'Callaghan and then f o r c e f u l l y

pushed him. He thought t h a t the o f f i c e r had grabbed M r .

OtCal laghan by t h e arms be fo re he pushed him. M r . Bolas asked

t h e o f f i c e r f o r t h e keys o f Mr. O'Cal laghanls c a r . A s f a r a s

M r . Bolas cou ld r e c a l l he was given t h e keys wi thovt comment.

Following a r a d i o c a l l made by t h e o f f i c + r f o r

a s s i s t a n c e , o t h e r p o l i c e o f f i c e r s a r r i v e d on t h e sqene. M r .

OICallaghan w a s p u t i n t h e back of a p o l i c e car and taken away.

Whether t h e o f f i c e r gave t h e keys t o M r . O'Callaghqnls c a r

t o M r . Bolas b e f o r e o r a f t e r t he o t h e r p o l i c e a r r i q e d i s n o t l

c l e a r . M r . Bolas could r e c a l l t h a t M r . OICallaghan s a i d ,

I

"Look what you have done t o my car". This i s a reflerence t o

some minor damage done t o t h e r i g h t hand s i d e o f M r . O tCal laghanls

l

c a r .	I	am	s a t i s f i e d t h a t t he damage was	caused wheh M r .	I
O'Callaghan	came	i n t o c o n t a c t wi th	t h e c a r du r ing	t:he	course

o f t h e i n c i d e n t . Although minor, t h e damage would have c o s t

n e a r l y $200 t o r e p a i r .

Miss Kate Bolas gave evidence t h a t s h e , t oo , saw

Mr. OICallaghan n e a r t he n o r t h - e a s t e r n s i d e o f Dunsinore S t r e e t

and then saw him t u r n around t o walk back t o h i s c a t . She

gave ev idence t h a t she saw him reach t h e c a r and l e a n i n s i d e

i t and then appear t o ask t h e o f f i c e r f o r somethihg. She

desc r ibed Mr. OICallaghan a s be ing on t h e d r i v e r ' s s i d e o f

t h e c a r t a l k i n g t o t he o f f i c e r who was above him,, They were

f a c i n g each o the r . The o f f i c e r would have been O',n top o f

t h e s lope . She s a i d t h a t M r . OICallaghan was gralbbed and was

pushed r e a l l y hard a g a i n s t t h e c a r . She s a i d t h a ~ t t he o f f i c e r

t h e n went t o h i s motorcycle and s t a r t e d r ad io ing . She s a i d

t h a t a f t e r M r . O'Callaghan w a s pushed a g a i n s t t h e c a r he

s t a r t e d asking the o f f i c e r what he was going t o do about t h e

damage t o h i s ca r . Other p o l i c e o f f i c e r s came on t h e scene

and M r . OICallaghan was taken away.

In a s ta tement made on 10 August 1981 Miss Bolas

s t a t e d t h a t i t was a f t e r t h e o f f i c e r had given t h e keys t o

M r . Rohan Bolas t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n a l p o l i c e o f f i c e q s a r r i v e d .

I n t h a t s ta tement she desc r ibed t h e i n c i d e n t a s fq1lows:-

"Then both of them s t a r t e d a rgu ing , I

couldn ' t hea r t h e conversa t ion , I j u s t

knew they were a rgu ing , I t h i n k t h a t 1 S

when the policeman grabbed Glen and threw

him up a g a i n s t t h e c a r . By t h i s time Glen

was r e a l l y angry and s t a r t e d swearing a t

the policeman about t h e damage done t o h i s ca r . ... Glen s t a r t e d t o ask t h e policeman f o r the keys which he gave t o Rohan i n t he end. Five minutes a f t e r t h a t t h r e e p o l i c e

c a r s	arr ived."
On	t he same day on which she made the s t a t emen t I

have j u s t r e f e r r e d t o , Miss Rolas had a conversa t ion wi th

De tec t ive Senior Constable J , A , Davies. That conve r sa t ion

was recorded. I s e t o u t hereunder a number of q u e s t i o n s and

answers from t h a t record:-

" Q . 5 In your s t a t emen t you s a i d , 'Then b ~ t h

of them s t a r t e d arguing. ' Where were

they s t and ing a t t h i s time?

A. Alongside t h e c a r , between the P o l i c e

motor b i k e and the c a r .

4.6 You a l s o s a i d , ' I j u s t knew they were

arguing. '	How	d i d you know they were
arguing?

A.	They were waving t h e i r arms around and
t h e i r vo i ces g o t louder .
4.7	You a l s o s a i d , "I t h i n k t h a t ' s when the

Policeman grabbed Glen and threw him

a g a i n s t t he c a r . ' Are you a b l e t o t e l l
me how the Policeman threw Glen a g a i n s t
t he c a r ?
A.	Glen was s t a n d i n g about a f o o t away from
t h e c a r . The Policeman grabbed him wi th
bo th hands by t h e f r o n t of h i s s h i r t and

pushed him a g a i n s t t h e f r o n t o f h i s c a r , he then p u l l e d him away from the car and

pushed him back i n t o i t again .
4.8	Can you t e l l me what you mean by t h e s t a t emen t
'The Policeman d i d n ' t seem a t a l l i n t e r e s t e d

i n i t ? '

A.	Well he j u s t leaned up a g a i n s t h i s motor
b ike and looked a t Glen. He j u s t d i d n ' t
seem t o c a r e about i t .
Q.9	I n your s ta tement you s a i d , 'he appeared
t o want t o l eave . ' What gave you t h a t

impression?

A.	Glen s a i d a loud , 'I'm going can I p l e a s e
have my keys. ' I n a very angry vo ice i t

was too."

The s ta tement r e f e r r e d t o i n t he q u e s t i o n s i s c l e a r l y 1

t h a t which she had e a r l i e r made and t o which I have e a r l i e r

l

r e f e r r e d . I

Mrs. Robyn OtCallaghan, t he mother o f M r . Glen

l

OtCal laghan, gave evidence. She went t o t he C i t y P o l i c e S t a t i o n

l

on t h e evening o f 2 1 May 1981 a t about 7.10 p.m. 'I'here she

l

had a conversa t ion with t he o f f i c e r . F i r s t she asked t o s e e

!

M r . Glen OtCallaghan bu t he d i d n o t wish t o s e e h e r . The 1 l

o f f i c e r r e t u r n e d and	a f t e r a	whi le	took	Mrs.	OfCallaghan i n t o	!
a n o t h e r room	and	t o l d h e r t h a t h e r son	would	be	charged wi th	I

d r i n k d r i v i n g . He then s a i d ,

"1 f e e l I should t e l l you t h a t t h e r e i s a den t

i n the f r o n t r i g h t hand mudguard o f t h e c a r

where Glen f e l l a g a i n s t it."

The o f f i c e r ' s

She r e p l i e d , " I t i s my b e l i e f he was pushed".

r e p l y was, "Fe l l o r pushed, t h a t i s how t h e d e n t g o t t h e r e M .

The o f f i c e r gave evidence t h a t when he a r r i v e d i n

Dunsmore S t r e e t on t h e evening of 2 1 May 1981 he found M r .

OICal laghanls c a r a t t h e bottom	of	t h e	d r a i n	a d j a c e n t	t o	t h e
sou th-wes te rn	s i d e o f	Dunsmore	S t r e e t .	H e walked	down	t h e
s l o p e	t o t h e v e h i c l e	and	saw	M r .	OICallaghan l y i n g	i n t h e
f r o n t	s e a t .	A s	he	approached M r .	OICallaghan s a t up.	M r .

O'Callaghan t o l d him t h a t he had d r iven from t h e Hacke t t

horse paddocks and had parked t h e v e h i c l e on t h e s i d e o f t h e

road and t h e v e h i c l e had s l i d down t h e road i n t o t h e d r a i n .

When M r . OICallaghan g o t o u t o f the v e h i c l e t h e o f f i c e r n o t i c e d

t h a t he was swaying on h i s f e e t , h i s ba lance was n o t good and

h i s eyes were watery and bloodshot . H e appeared t o have been

a s l eep .	H i s speech was	s l u r r e d .	The	o f f i c e r	informed M r .	i
I
OICallaghan t h a t he	be l i eved	t h a t he	had	been	d r i n k i n g	l

i n t o x i c a t i n g	l i q u o r ,	I n	t h e	b e l i e f	t h a t	M r .	OICallaghan was	l
going	t o	t r y t o d r i v e	t h e c a r o u t o f	t h e	d i t c h ,	t h e	o f f i c e r	1
l

removed	t h e keys	from	t h e	i g n i t i o n and	t o l d M r .	OqCallaghan	1
l

t h a t he was n o t going anywhere. Mr. OICallaghan asked f o r t h e

r e t u r n o f t h e keys. The o f f i c e r exp la ined t o him t h a t t hey

would n o t be handed back. M r . OICallaghan r e i t e r a t e d h i s

r eques t and, according t o t h e o f f i c e r , t h r e a t e n e d t o h i t him ~

if the keys were	n o t re turned ,	The	keys were	n o t r e t u r n e d and	I
~
l
t h e o f f i c e r l e f t t h e c a r and had	a	conve r sa t ion wi th	a	man	who

appeared on t h e o t h e r s i d e of t he fence which is the n o r t h -

e a s t e r n boundary o f Yowani Golf Club and t o which M r . OICallaghan 1

made r e f e r e n c e i n h i s evidence,as I have i n d i c a t e d above.

The o f f i c e r agreed t h a t Mr. OVCallaghan r e t u r n e d t o

h i s c a r , opened t h e door and go t i n t o t h e s e a t and probably

He went on t o s a y t h a t M r , O'Callaghan

reached f o r something.

l

Both were I

got. o u t o f	t h e c a r and	s tood by	i t s s i d e	f a c i n g him.	~
s t a n d i n g ve ry close	t o t h e	c a r ,	Mr.	O 'Cal laghanVs back	was

about a f o o t from it. M r . O'Callaghan cont inued t o demand

t h e r e t u r n o f h i s keys t h r e a t e n i n g t o h i t t h e o f f i c e r i f t hey

were n o t r e tu rned .

The o f f i c e r was then asked i n ch i e f whether M r .

O'Callaghan	d i d anything appa ren t ly	i n an	a t t empt t o g e t t h e
keys	back.	H e	r e p l i e d ,

"He	d i d reach t o g rab ho ld o f me,	I presume,
t o g e t t h e keys	o u t o f my	pocket."

He s t a t e d t h a t M r . OtCallaghan had p l aced one hand on h i s

( t h e o f f i c e r ' s ) c h e s t and "pushed i n a forward motion on my

chest" . He appeared t o s l i d e o r s l i p on t h e g r a s s . He was

l e a n i n g forward b u t s l i p p i n g backwards pushing t h e o f f i c e r

away and, appear ing t o over r e a c t , j u s t f e l l back on t o t h e

c a r . The o f f i c e r demonstrated what he had desc r ibed , H e

den ied t h a t he a s s a u l t e d M r . OICallaghan a s a l l eged .

S e n i o r Constable Meckie gave evidence on beha l f o f

t h e o f f i c e r . He was one of t h e policemen who had come t o t h e

scene	i n response	t o t h e o f f i c e r ' s	c a l l f o r a s s i s t a n c e .	He
gave evidence t h a t ~ r .	O'Callaghan	had	t o be	a s s i s t e d i n t o
t h e c a r ,	r e s i s t i n g s l i g h t l y ,	He	gave evidence	t h a t du r ing t h e

cou r se o f t h e journey t o t he p o l i c e s t a t i o n M r . O'Callaghan

s u b j e c t e d him and h i s f e l l ow o f f i c e r s t o non-s top abuse and

i n s u l t s . They were r e f e r r e d t o as "grunters1 ' and "pigs". He

made, a p p a r e n t l y on a number o f occas ions , comments about t h e

s t r o n g sme l l o f bacon i n s i d e t h e veh ic l e . He moved h i s arms

around. This caused no danger t o t he d r i v e r bu t Mr. OfCallaghan

was warned. A t t he p o l i c e s t a t i o n when a l l had a l i g h t e d M r .

OtCallaghan looked a t Sen ior Constable Meckie, a s t o c k i l y b u i l t

man, and s a i d t o him, "Wel1,you a r e about my s i z e , I ' l l fight yodl

and removed h i s s h i r t . Sen io r Constable Meckie summed up

M r . OICal laghanls behaviour a s p r o t e s t i n g and i n s u l t i n g . No

cross-examinat ion was	d i r e c t e d t o Senior Constable Pfeckie	t o
sugges t t h a t he was	mis taken i n anyth ing he s a i d and,	i n

a d d i t i o n , Constables Dainer and Brown who had a l s o been involved

i n t he a s s i s t a n c e rendered t o t h e o f f i c e r were i n Court and

a v a i l a b l e t o g ive ev idence if requi red . M r . Colefax d i d n o t

wish e i t h e r of them t o be a v a i l a b l e f o r cross-examinat ion.

i M r . OICallaghan was charged wi th d r i v i n g wi th t h e

p r e s c r i b e d con ten t o f a l c o h o l (he had a reading o f .l11

mil l ig rams o f a l coho l p e r 100 m i l l i l i t r e s o f blood i n s t e a d

C) o f t h e pe rmis s ib l e .08 mi l l ig rams p e r 100 m i l l i l i t r e s ) .

I A d d i t i o n a l l y he was charged wi th mal ic ious damage a r i s i n g

o u t o f an i n c i d e n t where t h e handle o f a door i n t h e p o l i c e

s t a t i o n was wrenched o f f .

Although he pleaded g u i l t y t o both charges and

t h e r e f o r e must be taken t o have admi t ted , a s a m a t t e r o f law,

t h a t he had d e l i b e r a t e l y wrenched t h e door handle o f f t h e

door , he denied on o a t h be fo re me	t h a t he had done i t
d e l i b e r a t e l y .

Two o t h e r passages from M r . OICal laghanls ev idence

seem	s i g n i f i c a n t a s throwing	l i g h t on	t h e ques t ion posed	t o
me.	He	was	ques t ioned about h i s emotional	s t a t e du r ing t h e

journey t o t h e p o l i c e s t a t i o n . I quote t h e r e l e v a n t passage:-

"You were angry a l l t h e way, I suggest t o you,

t o t h e p o l i c e s t a t i o n ? ---I was angry from t h e

time I s t e n t h e d i n t i n my c a r till I l e f t t h e

C i v i c p o l i c e s t a t i o n .

I t was t h e s i g h t of t he d i n t i n your c a r t h a t

made you angry?---Yes.

l

You were n o t angry be fo re that?---No. I

You had t o be f o r c i b l y p l aced i n t o a p o l i c e

c a r and wedged between two p o l i c e o f f i c e r s ,

d i d you n o t , a t Dunsmore S t r ee t ? - - -No , they

s a t me i n the c a r , I seen t h e d i n t , I t r i e d

t o g e t o u t ,	they c lo sed t h e door on my	l e g ,
and	then one p o l i c e o f f i c e r came	i n t h e

f r o n t and t o l d me t o blow i n t h i s . "

The second passage , given dur ing t h e cou r se of h i s examination

i n c h i e f , was a s fol lows: -

"Did you a t any s t a g e t h r e a t e n Cons tab le

Webeck?---No.

Did you a t any s t a g e push Constable Webeck?---

No,	I never l a i d a hand on him.
Can you t e l l h i s Honour what,	i f any th ing ,

happened t o t he keys of your ca r? - - -The l a s t

I seen o f them they were i n t h e i g n i t i o n of

t h e c a r . They were l e f t t h e r e when I was

as leep .

Did you s e e what happened t o them subsequent ly?

- - - I d i d n o t even n o t i c e they were gone."

A s is e v i d e n t from what I have s a i d and quoted above,

t h e r e were i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s between t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t he

i n c i d e n t g iven by t h e w i tnes ses c a l l e d on b e h a l f o f t h e

Commissioner. In p a r t i c u l a r t h e accounts g iven by M r . and

Miss	Bolas d i f f e r e d markedly from those given by M r .	Bryant	i
1

and Mr. O'Callaghan. Again, the account given by Mr. OeCallaghan l

d i f f e r e d markedly from t h a t g iven by M r . Bryant. The accounts l

given by Mr. and Miss Bolas d i d no t d i f f e r markedly from each l

o t h e r a l though Miss	Bolas	i n August	1981 d e s c r i b e d	two	d i s t i n c t	I
a s s a u l t s .

I was unable t o accep t a s a c c u r a t e t h e evidence

g iven by Mr. OVCallaghan and M r . Bryant. I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t

.

e a c h was we l l a f f e c t e d by l i q u o r . Mr. O'Callaghan descr ibed

h imse l f	as	" p r e t t y	t i p sy"	and	c e r t a i n l y h i s behaviour	i n t h e	1
p o l i c e	c a r and	a f t e r he	g o t	o u t o f	t h e	c a r was	i n c o n s i s t e n t

I am

w i t h r a t i o n a l and reasonably cour teous behaviour .

s a t i s f i e d t h a t he d i d ask t h e o f f i c e r f o r t h e r e t u r n o f h i s

keys , having no doubt n o t i c e d t h e i r absence when he went

t o g e t t h e c a r l i g h t e r . S u r p r i s i n g l y , he seems n o t t o have

a p p r e c i a t e d the f a c t t h a t an i n v e s t i g a t i o n was l i k e l y t o be

c a r r i e d out i n t o h i s d r i v i n g a f t e r consuming a l coho l . I t h i n k

th i s - shows	t h a t h i s g e n e r a l behaviour	a t t he	time	was
i r r a t i o n a l .

I am a l s o s a t i s f i e d on the whole o f t h e ev idence

i n c l u d i n g such l i t t l e guidance a s I ob ta ined from the demeanour

o f t h e w i tnes ses t h a t t h e i n c i d e n t a t t he c a r took p l a c e v e r y

much	a s t h e o f f i c e r s a i d i t d id .	He	appeared t o me	t o be
t e l l i n g t h e t r u t h b u t ,	more	impor tan t ly ,	I	could see no

reason whatever why he should do t o Mr. O'Callaghan what he is s a i d t o have done. I t was n o t as though M r . OtCal laghan

was a t t empt ing t o run away. C e r t a i n l y he had walked o f f once

b u t had t h e n r e tu rned and by a l l accounts was i n t h e immediate

v i c i n i t y o f h i s c a r when t h e i n c i d e n t occurred. There w a s

n o t h i n g i n t he evidence t o sugges t t h a t he was about t o

d e p a r t aga in . Indeed, I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t he was h e a t e d l y

demanding t h e r e t u r n o f t h e c a r keys.

I n a l l t h e c i rcumstances I am n o t s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e

charge a g a i n s t t h e o f f i c e r has been made ou t . I reach t h i s

conc lus ion on t h e b a s i s t h a t t h e onus of proof under taken by

t h e Commissioner was t o s a t i s f y t h e Tr ibuna l on t h e ba l ance o f

p r o b a b i l i t i e s , bea r ing i n mind t h e g r a v i t y of t h e charge made

a g a i n s t t h e o f f i c e r .	Scanes v.	Wilson,	(1974)	2 2 F.L.R.	262
a t pp.268-9.

I n f a i r n e s s t o t h e o f f i c e r , I t h ink it should be

s a i d t h a t I am no t s a t i s f i e d e i t h e r t h a t t h e damage caused t o

*

!fr. O'Cal laghants car was n o t caused i n t h e manner d e s c r i b e d

by t h e o f f i c e r .

A t t h e same time I th ink i t f a i r t o s a y , too, t h a t

I thought M r . and Miss Bolas were doing t h e i r b e s t t o t e l l

t h e t r u t h . I t h i n k t h a t they m i s i n t e r p r e t e d what they heard

and saw. I n p a r t i c u l a r , I th ink t h a t i t was l i k e l y t h a t t h e

n o i s e caused by M r . OtCal laghan 's c o l l i s i o n w i t h h i s c a r may

have l e d them t o a conc lus ion a s t o i t s cause which was n o t

warranted. I t i s f u r t h e r t o be noted t h a t M r . OICallaghan

d i d no t	s e e t h e	den t	i n h i s c a r u n t i l a f t e r he	had	been
s e a t e d i n t h e p o l i c e c a r .	I	add,	too,	t h a t I	accep ted t h e

evidence given by Mrs. OVCallaghan concerning t h e conve r sa t ion

which	she had w i t h	t h e o f f i c e r but	I	do n o t	t h i n k	t h a t
acceptance	invo lves	my	r e j e c t i o n o f	t h e	o f f i c e r ' s	v e r s i o n

o f events .

I n a l l t h e c i rcumstances I d i smis s t h e proceedings

a g a i n s t Sen io r Cons tab le Webeck. I o r d e r t h a t t h e Commissioner

pay h i s c o s t s o f and i n c i d e n t t o t h e proceedings . I t r u s t

t h a t t h e p a r t i e s w i l l be a b l e t o reach agreement on the

q u e s t i o n o f c o s t s b u t i f they cannot I g i v e l i b e r t y t o apply

on t h e method t o be used f o r t h e i r c a l c u l a t i o n .

I certify that thia and the 13

Rerrons for

F ~ v ( U I R ~ r r l ~ J * n I "