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The most senior police official involved in the arrest of Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton has been accused of concocting a \u201ctotal and utter fantasy\u201d after admitting his memory failed him during a courtroom grilling over the incident.<\/p>\n
Sergeant David Power, in the witness box on the second day of the hearing at ACT Magistrates Court, admitted key details he provided in the case did not occur. Power had previously alleged he kicked Wighton out of Fiction nightclub after he saw the NRL star with clenched fists, anger in his face and holding a man by the shirt.<\/p>\n
Police alleged Wighton and Mitchell, who will become teammates at South Sydney next year, fought each other outside the venue. However, Power claimed he had a \u201clong-term memory issue\u201d after his version of events was challenged by Wighton\u2019s lawyer, Steve Boland.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I saw appears to have not happened and my memory has failed me,\u201d Power said, adding that he had not intentionally misled the court.<\/p>\n
The bombshell revelation came after Boland used CCTV footage to put together a timeline of events that contradicted Power\u2019s version. Boland labelled Power\u2019s testimony as \u201ca total and utter fantasy you dreamt up to justify everything that happens\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mitchell and Wighton were out celebrating the latter\u2019s 30th birthday in February. Police alleged they had to intervene to break up the fight and arrest Mitchell, while reminding Wighton he had been issued with an exclusion direction and to leave.<\/p>\n
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NRL players Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton arrive at ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Alex Ellinghausen<\/cite><\/p>\n Wighton allegedly responded \u201clock me up with him, you\u2019re f—wits\u201d, before he was also arrested.<\/p>\n Mitchell could be heard crying out in pain and screaming \u201cplease\u201d as the players\u2019 friends begged police to stop their \u201cpolice brutality\u201d as they handcuffed him.<\/p>\n The court heard that Mitchell feared for his life and was a \u201cweeping mess\u201d.<\/p>\n Canberra captain Elliott Whitehead was part of a group of onlookers who told one of the police officers that Mitchell\u2019s treatment during the arrest was \u201cout of order\u201d. The court on Monday heard that officers used elbows, knees, a baton and spray can to cuff Mitchell.<\/p>\n At the time of his arrest, the Rabbitohs fullback said: \u201cI\u2019ve done nothing wrong but be a blackfella in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell was charged with affray, fighting in a public place and resisting a territory official.<\/p>\n Wighton is charged with fighting in a public place and failing to comply with an exclusion direction.<\/p>\n After watching footage of the arrest, Power said he \u201cdidn\u2019t see an issue with it\u201d.<\/p>\n The hearing continues.<\/p>\n