Accused police take fight to High Court

Two Victorian police officers who don't want to give evidence before the state's anti-corruption watchdog will seek leave to appeal in the High Court.

Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog has agreed to hold-off questioning two police accused of assaulting a mentally ill woman until the High Court can hear their case.

The Ballarat police officers are fighting a summons to the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission, which is investigating allegations of excessive force at their station.

They are accused of kicking and stomping on a woman arrested for public drunkenness, and say any possible future trial against them could be prejudiced if they are forced to give evidence in public.

The High Court in Melbourne on Tuesday heard IBAC had pledged not to question the officers until their application for special leave to appeal had been heard in Canberra next month.

This is the third time the police officers' testimony has been delayed, the court heard on Tuesday.

The Victorian Court of Appeal has already knocked back the male and female police officers' bid to appeal a Supreme Court decision not to grant an order preventing IBAC from questioning them.

There has been more excessive force complaints at Ballarat than at any other police station in the state.

The application for special leave to appeal will be heard in Canberra on November 13.


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Source: AAP



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