‘Exceedingly heavy-handed’: ACT police criticised by magistrate for Tasering disabled Aboriginal woman
Summary
An ACT magistrate called police conduct “exceedingly heavy-handed” after officers used a Taser on Emma, an Aboriginal woman with an intellectual disability, during an arrest in Canberra. Emma pleaded guilty to possessing a knife without reasonable excuse for scissors found in her bag; other charges were withdrawn, and a related civil claim is under way.Key Facts
- Police arrested Emma at a Canberra bus stop in January 2026 after receiving reports that she had a knife.
- Officers found two pairs of scissors, one broken, in a nearby backpack.
- Body-worn camera footage shown in court captured Emma raising her hands and saying she was unarmed.
- While officers held Emma down, another officer used a Taser in drive-stun mode against her back.
- Special magistrate Sean Richter said officers knew Emma and her vulnerabilities, and criticized their response as unwarranted and heavy-handed.
- Richter said Emma had a traumatic brain injury and a significant cognitive disorder.
- The prosecution withdrew all charges except possessing a knife without reasonable excuse; Emma pleaded guilty to that offence and was convicted.
- Emma’s lawyer filed a civil claim in July alleging that an officer made misleading statements or omissions in police evidence; ACT Policing declined further comment while the claim is under way.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
