Queensland officers seek dismissal of tasering case amid alleged investigative misconduct
Two senior constables charged with assault and unlawful restraint over a 2024 tasering incident in Mareeba have asked a Cairns court to permanently halt the prosecution, citing alleged police misconduct during the investigation.
In a Cairns District Court hearing, two senior constables—Andrew David Couchman and Ulrich Weiss—requested a permanent stay of criminal proceedings stemming from a January 2024 incident at the Mareeba watch house where Charlton Bong was tasered, handcuffed and confined for about two and a half hours. The officers were charged with assault and unlawful restraint after an investigation by Queensland Police Service’s Ethical Standards Command.
Defence counsel David Jones highlighted that Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Cavill inserted a misleading line into Bong’s sworn statement, claiming he had not consented to the force used, which the defence says amounts to deception. Additional arguments from Calvin Gnech suggest the entire investigative process tainted Bong’s recollection, making a fair trial impossible. Crown prosecutor Christian Peters countered that video evidence and expert testimony support the charges and that any alleged bias does not preclude a trial. Judge Dean Morzone KC has reserved judgment on whether to grant the stay, with a decision expected next week.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about police accountability and the fairness of investigations into alleged misconduct.
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