Lawyers for Peter Busuttil have accused a Wollongong police prosecutor of having inappropriate contact with their client in the lead up to a court hearing over allegations he assaulted police during the Fourth Reich Motorcycle Club charity bike show at Albion Park last year.
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More than 30 officers, led by police attached to the Force’s outlaw motorcycle gang team Strike Force Raptor, descended on the club’s annual Custom Bike and Tattoo Show family open day on October 10.
Busuttil was arrested and charged during the event over allegations he assaulted the Raptor officer in charge of the case, Detective Inspector Darren Beeche, by pushing him in the chest during an altercation at the entry gates to the Croome Lane clubhouse.
Busuttil denied charges of police assault and resist arrest and elected to take the matter to a hearing.
In court on Wednesday, Det Insp Beeche was asked if he had spoken to a police prosecutor about the case during initial court proceedings and mentions.
He replied he had not.
He was then asked if he was aware of a phone conversation said to have occurred between Busuttil and a Wollongong-based police prosecutor during the initial proceedings.
It is alleged the prosecutor bypassed Busuttil’s lawyers and phoned him directly, allegedly telling him he should “plead guilty”, allegedly saying it was “a fair deal [and] there had been a lot of media hype [about the incident]”.
Insp Beeche again replied he was unaware of any such conversation taking place.
Busuttil’s lawyer, Winston Terracini, SC, is accusing police of “flagrantly misusing” their powers under the liquor licensing legislation to gain access to the club.
The matter returns to court in January.
