Matt Butcher welcomes taser trial
A policeman who was felled by a flying head-butt during a brawl in Joondalup will fight the legal action brought against him and the State by one of the men involved in the clash.
Robert McLeod claims he was "wrongfully" tasered by Sen. Const. Matt Butcher outside a pub in 2008.
Sen. Const. Butcher pulled out his taser shortly before he was head-butted and knocked unconscious by Mr McLeod's son Barry.
Mr McLeod is seeking unspecified damages for serious injuries he claims he suffered as a result of being tasered.
He came face-to-face with Sen. Const. Butcher this morning during a pre-trial conference in the District Court, which was closed to the public and the media.
Concerns have been raised that the State Solicitor's Office and government insurer RiskCover were considering settling the legal action.
But Sen. Const. Butcher, who was left permanently paralysed after the brawl, today confirmed the case would go to trial.
He said he was pleased with the outcome of the conference and was looking forward to defending his actions in court.
"I stand firm that I've done nothing wrong on that day and I'm happy to go to court and go through it again," he said.
"I've been going through this sort of stuff for seven years now.
"We will just take it in our stride. It's another door to get through and shut and move on."
Sen. Const. Butcher thanked the Government for its strong stance and for pushing the matter to trial.
Sen. Const Butcher suffered permanent injuries after being headbutted during brawl. Picture:Nic Ellis
Mr McLeod and his sons were cleared of assaulting police after a trial.
He suffered a heart attack during the incident and was in a coma for three days.
Mr McLeod launched the legal action soon after Sen. Const. Butcher was awarded a $3.3 million payout by the Government as compensation for his injuries.
In a writ filed in 2011, Mr McLeod described the use of the taser as not "authorised, justified or excused by law".
He claimed he suffered post-traumatic stress and has been unable to work since the incident.
WA Police Union director Lindsay Garratt said while he could not comment on what happened during the conference, he was also happy with the Government's tough stance.
"This was an unbelievable incident," he said.
"The incident will be listed for court some time in the future."
Robert McLeod leaves Perth District Court. Picture: Lincoln Baker/WA News.
Mr McLeod did not comment outside court.
