AUSTRALIA: Kevin Spratt demands release of second Taser footage

October 25, 2010
David Prestipino, PerthNow

TASER victim Kevin Spratt has written to Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan and Attorney General Christian Porter demanding access to vision of a second Taser attack and a copy of his criminal record by 2pm tomorrow.

Mr Spratt was Tasered up to 13 times by police officers in the East Perth Watch House in September 2008.

A week later he was Tasered a further 11 times at the watch house by officers from the Department of Corrective Services while being removed from his holding cell, an incident he says left him with serious injuries including a punctured lung.

Mr Porter told State Parliament Mr Spratt could have access to vision of the second attack so he could determine whether to press charges against those involved.

But Mr Spratt today claimed Mr Porter was deliberately finding ways to stall the vision being released.

"It must show shocking violence against me because, after the Corrective Services Officers took me out of the cell, I had a busted shoulder, a punctured lung and had to be admitted through the emergency department of Royal Perth Hospital for surgery," he said.

Mr Spratt has also asked Mr O'Callaghan for a copy of his criminal record after it was leaked to the media.

The leak is currently being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission, with Mr Spratt saying it was misleading and inaccurate.

"The flow chart handed out by the commissioner and deputy commissioners of police and their motivation behind producing the flow chart, I am assured, is currently under investigation by the CCC," Mr Spratt said.

"That is, that the actions of the commissioner of police and deputy commissioner of police are now under direct investigation by the CCC.

"The flow chart itself is seriously misleading and contains serious inaccuracies, which the CCC is obviously very concerned about and inquiring into at this time.

"I am of the opinion that there has been an obvious attempt to publicly destroy me in advance of any criminal trial of the police.

"I have also therefore asked the CCC to closely examine the police commissioner and his deputy as to the actual motivation behind what the Premier has called an 'unprecedented' attack upon a person who has come forward to make a complaint about police misconduct.

"Accordingly I requested a copy of my record of convictions ... so that I could directly address the inaccuracies."