A protester accused of biting a police officer’s finger as other officers punched him at a rally against Israeli Prime Minister Isaac Herzog’s visit has been criticised by a magistrate for breaching his bail for previous offences and over a decision to wear a Palestinian scarf in the courtroom.
Jace Turner, 28, was charged with assaulting an officer, causing actual bodily harm during the February 9 rally, where thousands of protesters clashed with hundreds of police in a bloody and chaotic confrontation.
Viral footage of the incident showed Turner pinned to the light rail tracks on George Street. One officer holds his arm behind his back while the other punches Turner in the head, appearing to be trying to remove his finger from Turner’s mouth. The first officer then deals over a dozen blows to Turner’s ribs, shoulders and upper back as the second removes his finger.
The court heard Turner bit the officer with “extreme force” causing bleeding and bruising.
Turner arrived in Sydney court on Tuesday wearing a suit and wrapped in a keffiyeh scarf, and walking with a fashion cane, which was removed by security.
Magistrate Greg Grogin questioned Turner’s decision to wear the scarf.
“This is not a place for protest, this is not a place for political opinions, this is a place of law … not impressed,” he said.
Reading from the police facts, Grogin said the crowd had resisted police direction to leave the area when Turner was “pushed back with force” by the officer he would later allegedly bite.
Turner is then alleged to have pushed the officer back with a “slapping” motion before being arrested and pushed to the ground.
“The facts allege Turner resisted arrest violently … mov[ing] his hand in a thrashing motion and ignoring police direction,” Grogin said.
When the officer tried to grab Turner’s hand, he then allegedly bit the officer’s thumb “with extreme force” and refused to let go, the court heard.
“The force of the bite allegedly pierced the skin … His injuries show substantial bruising,” Grogin said, adding the officer sought treatment from hospital.
The court heard Turner was on bail for three counts of common assault and remaining on a premises after being excluded, for an incident from August last year, as well as a separate charge of domestic violence assault. By attending the protest, he had broken his curfew.
Turner’s lawyer sought a bail review so Turner could attend evening Mardi Gras events.
However, Grogin refused the review request. “He was governed by two sets of bail … Due to the fact that he was unable to comply with court bail conditions, I am not of the opinion that the curfew should be lifted.”
Turner is to reside in an address in Sydenham and abide by a 6pm curfew.
Represented by the Aboriginal Legal Service, Turner registered a plea of not guilty. His case will next be in court on April 7, where he is not required to appear.
The violent clash between police and protesters left several people injured after being sprayed with capsicum spray, knocked to the ground, and manhandled. One elderly woman broke her back after being knocked over by police, while another said her 16-year-old son was grabbed by his scarf, thrown to the ground and had his face pushed against the concrete before being “cuffed like a criminal”.
Police arrested 27 people at the protest, charging nine, including Turner. Russell Zaragoza, 19, also faced court on Tuesday, charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer causing actual bodily harm.
The seven other protesters, charged with offences including assault, resisting arrest, behaving in an offensive manner, and throwing a missile at an officer, will face court in the coming weeks.
An 18-year-old was also charged with three counts of assaulting a police officer and possessing a knife in a public place after allegedly shining a torch in the face of an officer. The alleged offence took place at a separate rally on February 10 to protest police brutality at the Herzog rally the day prior.
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Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.