Footage of the moment a police officer allegedly assaulted an innocent teenager has been released by a court.
The 16-year-old was stopped by Victoria police as he was walking home with a friend in Ringwood, east Melbourne, during the early hours of Christmas morning in 2014.
The video, captured on one of the boys’ phones, appears to show officer Simon Marengareu assaulting the teen and shoving him to the ground, Herald Sun reports.
The video was released by County Court Judge Jeanette Morrish who stipulated that it must be reported the footage was not complete, had been enhanced and was not properly synchronised.
‘Hey, sonny, don’t get smart,’ the police officer can be heard saying as the boy makes a comment about his own last name – seconds before Mr Marengareu allegedly attacks him and throws him down in the street.
The victim’s friend, who is filming the incident, attempts to capture further footage of the struggle, but appears to have his phone struck out of his hand by a second policeman: officer Dennis Gundrill.
Mr Gundrill can be heard pressuring the teen into deleting the footage, moments before the teen vocally accuses the police officer of twisting his arm and begs him to stop.
The footage was allegedly deleted after the boys were taken to the Ringwood police station – but Prosecutor Bruce Walmsley QC said it was recovered after the teen’s father paid a ‘significant sum’ to experts, prompting Victoria Police to investigate.
‘It was a guilty mind that deleted the video,’ Mr Walmsley said.
Mr Marengareu and Mr Gundrill are on trial over the incident.
Footage of the moment a police officer allegedly assaulted an innocent teenager has been released by a court, as two officers face charges over the accusations (stock image)
The charges allege that one of the teenagers was punched in the face and both were falsely imprisoned for assaulting police and resisting arrest.
Mr Marengareu has pleaded not guilty to intentionally causing injury, and he and Mr Gundrill have both pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment, attempting to pervert the course of justice and perjury.
The footage was allegedly deleted after the boys were arrested – but Prosecutor Bruce Walmsley QC said it was recovered after the teen’s father paid a ‘significant sum’ to experts, prompting Victoria Police to investigate (stock image)
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