The trial of a policeman accused of unlawfully accessing the police database and impersonating his neighbour while calling in a noise complaint has ended in a hung jury.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The jury representative told the court Monday they were not able to reach a unanimous verdict and would not be able to do so even if given more time.
They had deliberated for a day on Friday and returned to continue working through Monday morning until they were discharged before 1pm.
Justice David Mossop thanked them for their service.
William Stuart Anson Bonner, 56, faced trial charged with the unauthorised access of data and dishonestly influencing a public official.
The alleged offences came after months of tension between Mr Bonner's family and their neighbours who regularly threw all-night parties and allowed several dogs to bark constantly.
The court heard the neighbours were hostile and would sometimes sing "F--k you Stu" from the house.
Mr Bonner was on duty the night of October 25, 2014, when the neighbours in the northern suburb of Nicholls were throwing a Halloween party.
Mr Bonner told the court he had fears the neighbours behaviour would escalate to violence.
He had two calls from his wife that night, and it was after the first that he made the phone call impersonating a nearby resident.
After the second, when his wife reported a neighbour coming up to the front door swearing and acting aggressively, Mr Bonner used the police radio to say it was his family.
Mr Bonner admitted the conduct but defended the charges on the basis that it was an emergency situation and that he had been acting in the defence of his family.
Following a hung jury, prosecutors may withdraw the charge or choose to retry the accused.
The barrister for Mr Bonner James Stewart said he would be writing to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to ask for a certain course.
The case was listed for directions next week.
