World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
ACT magistrate criticises police for Tasering disabled Aboriginal woman
In Canberra, a magistrate criticised ACT police for Tasering an Aboriginal woman with an intellectual disability during an arrest in January.
Police had been called over reports that Emma had a knife, but officers found two pairs of scissors, one broken, in a nearby backpack.
Body-camera footage showed Emma raise her hands and say she was unarmed; officers then took her to the ground and used a Taser on her back.
Magistrate Sean Richter called the officers’ actions unwarranted and heavy-handed, saying they knew about her vulnerabilities.
Emma has a traumatic brain injury and a neurocognitive disorder, and had been placed on a psychiatric treatment order.
She pleaded guilty to possessing a knife without reasonable excuse over the scissors and was convicted; prosecutors withdrew her other charges.
A civil claim over the arrest is under way, and ACT Policing says it will not comment while it continues.
An ACT magistrate criticised police for using a Taser on an Aboriginal woman with an intellectual disability during an arrest in Canberra.
Special Magistrate Sean Richter described the officers’ conduct as “exceedingly heavy-handed” and said the use of force was unwarranted.
Police had been called over reports that the woman, identified as Emma, had a knife, but officers found scissors in a nearby backpack.
Emma pleaded guilty to possessing a knife without reasonable excuse, an offence related to the scissors, and was convicted.
ACT Policing said it would not comment further because an associated civil claim is under way.
- Who
- Special Magistrate Sean Richter criticised ACT police over their treatment of Emma, an Aboriginal woman with an intellectual disability.
- What
- Police used a Taser on Emma during an arrest; Richter called their actions unwarranted and heavy-handed.
- When
- January 2026.
- Where
- At a Canberra bus stop.
- Why
- Police were called after reports that Emma had a knife.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Police arrested Emma at a Canberra bus stop and used a Taser on her.
The ACT magistrates court heard that officers also threatened to use OC spray after Emma struck her head against a police van.
The court released a transcript of the hearing to Guardian Australia.
Guardian Australia reported Richter’s criticism of the police conduct.
- Magistrate
- Sean Richter
- Woman
- Emma, an Aboriginal woman with an intellectual disability
- Arrest location
- Canberra bus stop
- Objects found
- Two pairs of scissors, one broken
- Charge
- Possessing a knife without reasonable excuse; Emma pleaded guilty and was convicted
- Taser use
- Officers used drive-stun mode against Emma’s back
What people are saying
I consider that the actions of the police in that matter were unwarranted and heavy-handed.
I sometimes wonder when we lost the ability to speak to people.
As an associated civil claim is under way in relation to this matter, it would not be appropriate to provide further comment.