NSW: Three teenagers charged over assault of off-duty police

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2006
NSW: Three teenagers charged over assault of off-duty police

SYDNEY, Dec 3 AAP - Three Sydney teenagers have been charged after assaulting a group
of off-duty police in central Sydney, leaving one of them in a coma.

Words were allegedly exchanged between the three officers and a group of six men on
Bathurst Street, near the intersection with George Street, around 1am (AEDT) this morning.

An 18-year-old Forestville man then punched one of the off-duty constables in the face,
knocking him unconscious as he fell heavily to the ground, police said.

A 17-year-old Chatswood boy and an 18-year-old Ryde man also allegedly assaulted the
other two officers.

The 24-year-old constable was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and was in a critical
condition in an induced coma.

Nearby police saw the incident and arrested the Chatswood boy and the Ryde men.

They have been charged with common assault and have been granted conditional bail to
appear at Bidura Children's Court and Downing Centre Local Court on January 11.

The Forestville man was arrested in his home suburb at 1pm (AEDT) today.

He was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm and granted conditional bail to
appear at Downing Centre Local Court on January 10.

AAP sk/wjf/cjh/de

KEYWORD: OFFDUTY

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