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Mark Hinchliffe·
NewsMotorbike news
··13 Comments·2 min read

Police drop charge against rider

Police Harassment in charity ride Hells Angels assault charge exonerated
Magic being shoved by the officer

Police prosecution have dropped charges against an army veteran rider who claimed he was assaulted by police at a March 2018 charity ride.

Michael “Magic” Parr faced a charge of not obeying the direction of police for this incident caught on video.

It occurred at Woodenbong on March 3 on the 26th annual Good as Gold ride.

The video shows Magic Parr being confronted by Senior Constable Murphy of the NSW Police Strike Force Raptor.

The hearing was scheduled for April 2019 in Kyogle Local Court, but police prosecution contacted him to say they would not proceed. No reasons have been given.

At the time, Magic made a formal complaint to police of alleged unlawful assault when the officer shoved him.

However, NSW Police Force Professional Standards Unit rejected the complaint, saying the officer’s shove was a “single approved check drill in accordance with his training”.

Click here to read the full reply.

Police Harassment charity ride profiling charge

“Police policing their own is an endemic problem,” Magic says.

“There needs to be an external body to handle complaints about police.

“People are being abused and give up making complaints because they know it will not go anywhere.

“Now police feel they can do anything they like.”

Magic says had been looking forward to his day in court.

Handlebar defect

Magic also successfully fought a handlebar defect notice issued at the charity ride.

“The judge found in my favour and was critical of police methods for measuring handlebar heights,” Magic says.

“The judge said their methods were inherently inaccurate as it needs to be done under strict guidelines to ensure the measurements are accurate.”

When Magic arrived at Kyogle Court last year, he was immediately approached by Murphy who asked to see his licence.

“He also checked my bike again,” Magic says.

Veteran assault charge
Magic on his Harley

Murphy appeared in court as a support witness to the officer who issued all the defect notices on the day.

“So anyone who had bar height infringements, especially if close to the allowed range, are probably inaccurate and wrong and they should fight them.

“However, most people can’t afford the time off work to go to court and just pay the fine and move on.

Police Harassment charity ride charges charge
The ride was roadblocked

“The whole purpose of Strikeforce Chapel on the day was to stop the ride by whatever means.

“I believe the (measurement) error was deliberate.”

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13 Comments

  2. It’s a disgrace that our government allows Raptor Police (and I use the term Police very lightly), to intentionally issue fraudulent infringements against the general public. It must embarrassing to our greater Police Service. Seems very similar to the discriminatory tactics used by the specialist NAZI regimes that our country has fought to protect the Australian communities from.
    Not only motorcyclists should be concerned, but the entire Australian public should be concerned. It needs to be stopped!

  3. The police officer did not drop the charges. The Office of Public Prosecution withdrew the charges as it was unlikely there would be a successful conviction. There is a difference. Wiser heads have prevailed. The NSW Police Force Professional Standards Unit rejected the complaint. The Complainant has a right of appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. If the Complainant if unsatisfied with the response the Complainant can place the matter before the Court. All police officers must obey the law in carrying out their duties. They can be charged and convicted the same as any other person for breaching the Law.

  4. Approaching the complainant before a Court appearance could be seen as intimidation, and if a member of the Public were to attempt such, the Court would view it very dimly.

  5. I am concerned by the actions of Senior Constable Murphy at the Kyogle Courthouse. Quote from your article. “When Magic arrived at Kyogle Court last year, he was immediately approached by Murphy who asked to see his licence. “He also checked my bike again,” Magic says.” end Quote. This appears to be a clear case of a witness at a trial seeking to influence the outcome of that trial. Senior Constable Murphy has shown Contempt of the Court. Senior Constable Murphy should be brought back before the Kyogle Court to explain his actions.

  6. It appears Senior Constable Andrew Murphy of NSW Police Force “Raptor 13” Is well known for violence and intimidation. Is Australia heading down the road to the approval of police violence that we see occurring in other countries.

  7. Cops like Senior Constable Andrew Murphy of NSW Police Force do more harm than good and give the entire force a bad name. Why don’t senior officers step in and put Murphy in a role where he is under direct supervision. I would go so far as to suggest a psychological examination of Murphy as he is obviously nothing but a bully in uniform. I wonder how tough he would be out of uniform if he tried his Nazi stand over tactics against a couple of bikers.

  8. I would rather live in a place where the police were on the front foot enforcing laws than in the gutless state of Victoria where the police stand by an watch violence occur. I cannot believe the lilly lividness of the Vic. Police. They really are only good at random breath testing. It is known as a “Police Service” not a Police Force.

  9. The video clearly shows Parr advancing toward the police officer and he responded with the check drill.
    You may disagree with what the police are under orders to do, but that’s irrelevant, they’re going to do it.
    If Parr got rid of the confrontational attitude he would have been on his way much quicker.
    Respect is a two way street, you don’t give it, you wont get it.

    1. Speaking from a legal perspective. Parr was not under arrest. He was a free citizen, he has the right of free movement. Parr is within his rights to walk away or do whatever he makes the choice to do. when Senior Constable Andrew Murphy aka “Raptor 13” forcefully pushes Parr he then takes a step forward. That step forward is an offence. At law, Senior Constable Andrew Murphy of NSW Police Force “Raptor 13” exceed his lawful authority. There is sufficient evidence for the matter to be placed before the Kyogle Magistrates Court. Task Force Raptor is a public relations exercise and nothing more than that. What is the outcome of 20 plus cops, 4 bikes, 4 cars. Nothing. Yep Nothing, No convictions. Parr was not convicted of an offence. With all the drive by shootings in Sydney, is Task Force Raptor there. NO. What happens if Task Force Raptor comes upon a serious criminal what will they do, give him a traffic infringement. Task Force Raptor is a Clown Show.

  10. Our Police services have degenerated to a culture of who the hell cares if you are guilty or not; we have someone to jail or fine, doesn’t really matter as long as long as the police officer gets merit for it and advances up the ladder. Recent highlighted TV cases in Tasmania (murder on a sail boat, wife still in jail), Rape and domestic violence case in ACT/NSW and my own observations at a Qld “murder” case which blind Freddy could see was a suicide show that the Police are the least trustworthy people to approach should you be caught up in crime/accident/discovery of a body or such. Say NOTHING and get a lawyer if the police speak to you. Also we have a quaint practice in Qld courts, the Defence must sum up to the jury BEFORE the CROWN. If that isn’t the biggest advantage I don’t know what is.

  11. This was done to riders who were on a Charity Ride! Why did Raptor even become involved or find it necessary to disrupt a Charity Ride being done peacefully and within the law??
    It woud be really interesting to find out the basis for the Raptor intervention and what the Police believe was achieved as a result of all this!!

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