It ended up in court because a criminal complaint was made by the hotel. If the cops didn't proceed there would have been a complaint against them for failing to take action. It was up to the hotel to either negotiate with Stewart civilly for the damages of proceed criminally. They obviously took the criminal course of action. Don't blame the cops blame the hotel. He didn't beat the conviction but the magistrate dealt with it under section 10 where he was put on a bond and no conviction recorded and rightly so.
The cops always had the discretion not to prosecute but they did so. That was their decision.
It was rubbish.
No one can force the cops to prosecute, that’s not how it works.
Northies could have sued the kid in civil courts
Cops get complaints about them all the time. Part of the job. Sometimes warranted, sometimes not.
Your last sentence doesn’t make any sense. You don’t get half convicted.
The kid beat the wrap, no criminal record and imho thoroughly deserved.
Thank goodness for courts to keep the planks like these cops in check.
Wasting our taxes like this, cowardly in this instance.
At the end of the day, cops are public servants.