Arabic version: قاضٍ ينتقد شرطة إقليم العاصمة الأسترالية بسبب توقيف بصاعق كهربائي

According to The Guardian, Special Magistrate Sean Richter criticised ACT police as “exceedingly heavy-handed” over the January arrest of Emma, an Aboriginal woman with an intellectual disability, at a Canberra bus stop.

Police had been called following reports that Emma had a knife. Officers found two pairs of scissors, including one that was broken, in a nearby backpack. Body-worn camera footage shown to the ACT magistrates court showed Emma raising her hands after officers arrived and pointed a Taser at her.

As an officer tried to handcuff her, Emma pushed back and was pulled to the ground. Two officers held her down while another activated a Taser against her back in “drive stun” mode. Seven officers were present. Richter said she was “putting up no resistance” and questioned when authorities had “lost the ability to speak to people”.

Richter said Emma had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident when she was 12. He said the ACT civil and administrative tribunal had described her as having a mental impairment and neurocognitive disorder, and that she had been placed on a psychiatric treatment order.

Most charges arising from the incident were withdrawn. Emma pleaded guilty to possessing a knife without reasonable excuse, relating to the scissors, and was convicted. ACT Policing said it noted Richter’s comments but could not comment further because an associated civil claim is under way. Her lawyer, Michael Lalor, alleges an officer made misleading statements or omissions that led to more serious charges and 28 days in custody before bail.