Two casino guards escape assault count
Two Burswood Casino security officers will not be charged despite a magistrate finding they assaulted a man who was attending a wedding.
A police spokesman said yesterday there was insufficient evidence to charge the two men - Uhmet Gungor and Peter Ross - even though Magistrate Robert Lawrence urged police to investigate them when Gregory Haig was acquitted in November last year of assaulting Mr Gungor.
A Corruption and Crime Commission spokesman said there was no evidence the police decision not to pursue charges against the two men was unreasonable, improper, oppressive or unjust.
Mr Haig, who was attending a wedding function, was apprehended by the two security officers on November 23, 2008 after receptionist Casinda May Buckley-Stanton alerted security to a man being abusive towards her.
However, during the trial it emerged Ms Buckley-Stanton had told police the verbally abusive man had sandy blond hair. Mr Haig has dark brown hair.
It also emerged that Mr Ross, who Mr Haig claims pushed him from behind, refused to give police a statement or testify.
According to the court transcripts, his reason for not doing so was that at the time he faced a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.
The investigating officer, Const. Alan Edward Ball, admitted under cross-examination that he had not viewed the security footage, of which there was 32 minutes missing.
Handing down his verdict, Mr Lawrence said: "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the incident occurred as described in detail by the accused."
He said there had been no lawful justification for Mr Ross grabbing Mr Haig from behind and forcing him to the ground with the assistance of Mr Gungor.
"They assaulted him unlawfully and then the two of them physically threw him to the ground outside the door," Mr Lawrence said.
"I would have thought that there should be further inquiries as to the conduct of those security officers."
A Burswood spokeswoman said the matter had been investigated more than once and Burswood considered the matter closed.
