The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Christopher Pryde, has directed that charges against Nelson Johanson, Johan Robert Johanson and Gerald Muller are withdrawn after receiving credible evidence that they had been assaulted by police in custody.

Nelson Johanson, Johan Robert Johanson and Gerald Muller were initially jointly charged with one count each of aggravated burglary and theft but upon receiving credible evidence that the confessions obtained by police had been obtained inappropriately and in breach of the their constitutional rights, the DPP has withdrawn the case before the court this morning (31/10/18).

Mr Pryde said, “The only evidence against the accused were the confessions they made whilst in police custody.  There being credible evidence that the men were assaulted by police during their interrogation, I made the decision to have the charges against them withdrawn. I want to commend the police officers who came forward with this additional information. The allegations against the police officers are very serious and the file will now be returned to the police recommending that an investigation is commenced into the allegations.”