Arabic version: تبرئة ضابط أمن في شرطة جنوب أستراليا من تهم العنف الأسري

According to ABC News, police security officer Tim Waverley Morrison has been found not guilty of domestic violence charges following a judge-alone trial in South Australia’s District Court. Morrison, 36, of Aldinga Beach, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated threatening life.

The charges related to allegations involving his former partner during the latter half of 2019. At trial, a prosecutor alleged that Morrison held a police-issued firearm to the woman’s chest in one incident and held a knife to her neck on another occasion.

Judge Lisa Dunlop delivered the verdict acquitting Morrison. She said the outcome should not be regarded as a finding that the complainant had lied in her evidence. The judge said she had carefully assessed the evidence but was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt as to the charged acts.

Judge Dunlop said proof beyond reasonable doubt was a high standard and that there were too many deficiencies in the evidence to reach that conclusion. She said a court could not decide a criminal case based on what probably happened during alleged incidents, or on suspicions, even strong ones.

Outside court, Morrison’s lawyer, James Caldicott, said his client was “very grateful for the court process” and had always maintained his innocence. Caldicott said the family should be allowed to move forward. Asked by reporters whether he felt vindicated, Morrison said: “Yes.” He did not answer questions about whether he would return to work as a police security officer.