Latrell Mitchell's family revelation after police charges dropped in court
The South Sydney star and Jack Wighton had their fighting charges thrown out in court on Wednesday.
Latrell Mitchell has opened up on the toll his "traumatic" arrest and subsequent court case had on his family after seeing charges dismissed on Wednesday. Police threw out fighting charges against the NRL superstar and former Canberra Raiders playmaker Jack Wighton, with prosecutor Sam Bargwanna deciding not to offer any more evidence on Wednesday morning.
The most senior police officer involved in their arrest - Sergeant David Power - admitted on Tuesday he gave false evidence and lied under oath while testifying. Lawyers for the NRL players indicated that civil action would stem from the botched prosecution, with the ACT's attorney-general reportedly considering a review into the case.
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Mitchell and Wighton were both clearly relieved outside court on Wednesday, with the distant cousins hugging and joking with one another after the charges were pulled. Breaking his silence on the ordeal, Mitchell revealed that the hardest part of the off-field drama was the brutal media spotlight and the effect the ordeal had on his family and loved ones.
"I hope everyone knows and understands the seriousness of what's going on and (it was) a massive hit on the community," he told reporters outside court. "For the last 10 months it's been very hard for not only myself but my family and what they've had to read and endure ... (it's a) traumatic experience that I've had of Canberra."
Sgt Power initially said he'd removed former Canberra player Wighton from Fiction nightclub after seeing him with clenched fists, anger in his face and grabbing another man by the shirt in an aggressive manner. But Wighton's lawyer Steve Boland pieced together a timeline via CCTV footage that forced him to admit his "memory had failed me" and that what he'd said hadn't happened.
Sgt Power later addressed Wighton, saying: "Sorry, Jack, if that's what happened mate, I thought I saw something different... I'm sorry." Wighton wouldn't respond when asked what he made of the apology, instead paying tribute to the support of his former club the Raiders and its CEO, Don Furner.
"You backed me the whole way through and it means a lot to me... I spent so long at this club and in this town and the support is massive," Wighton - who is set to link up with Mitchell at the Rabbitohs in 2024 - told reporters. "You've got to thank your family for backing you through moments like this, it was a long 10 months, there were a couple of big mistakes made and we come up with this result."
The Rabbitohs also responded in a statement on Wednesday after revealing the charges had "weighed heavily on both players" for months. " The South Sydney Rabbitohs welcome today's dismissal of charges against players Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton in the ACT Magistrate's Court regarding charges laid by ACT Police in February 2023," the statement read.
"At no stage did Jack Wighton engage in violent or aggressive conduct, and there was no need for police to use the level of force that Mr Mitchell endured. These charges have also weighed heavily on both players over the past eight to nine months. They have shown great courage and resilience in fighting to prove the charges laid were false and unwarranted."
Police throw out charges against NRL pair
The star duo had been at Fiction celebrating Wighton's 30th birthday, before they spilled onto the street when the former Raider was removed from the venue for alleged aggressive behaviour. Police had accused the pair of fighting each other after Wighton was given an exclusion direction.
South Sydney fullback Mitchell could be heard pleading with police to ease up while they were arresting him, while friends could be heard telling the officers to stop their "police brutality". Mitchell, 25, had been charged with affray, fighting in a public place and resisting a territory official. Meanwhile Wighton, 30, was charged with fighting in a public place and failing to comply with an exclusion direction.
On Tuesday, Mr Boland accused the senior police officer of framing his client. "It is orchestrated what you did, every step of the way ... you tried to have this man and his mate arrested on criminal offences when there was poison at the root of the case," he told the court.
Sgt Power also admitted he had called eight officers involved in the arrest to a "roundtable" meeting to agree on a version of events. "It has all the hallmarks of a man that knew he'd done the wrong thing and needed to get his story straight," Mr Boland told the court. Sgt Power replied: "I can see why you might think that."
with AAP
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