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'Excessive force' used at Crown: judge

Matthew Scott Lawson, who was last year cleared of manslaughter, was found guilty of recklessly causing injury when he broke a punter's wrist.

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Source: AAP


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A culture in which security used excessive force against Crown Casino patrons existed when a bouncer broke a punter's wrist, a Victorian judge has said.

Matthew Scott Lawson, who was last year cleared of the manslaughter of another patron, was found guilty of recklessly causing injury as he led a man out of the Melbourne casino in June 2011.

Victorian County Court Judge Mark Dean said the man was screaming in pain as he was forcefully removed from the casino by Lawson and other security guards.

The man broke a bone in his wrist and was in a plaster cast for six weeks.

Judge Dean said Lawson had shown no remorse for breaking the man's wrist and maintained that he had done nothing wrong.

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"Your moral culpability must be regarded as high," he told Lawson on Monday.

"Your role was to prevent violence and keep the peace, and not to unlawfully assault patrons at Crown Casino."

Judge Dean also described "systematic failings" within Crown Casino, but said it was unclear if this led to Lawson's offending.

"There may have been systemic failings within Crown Casino that contributed to your offending, in particular, the poor training of security staff and a culture which permitted the use of excessive force by security staff against patrons," he said.

"It is, however, difficult for me to accurately assess this issue and whether it did contribute to your offending."

Lawson, 28, was convicted and fined $2500.

Lawson was found not guilty last year of the manslaughter of patron Anthony Dunning, who died in hospital several days after being brought down and restrained by bouncers on the casino's gaming room floor in July 2011.

The conviction recorded by Judge Dean will disqualify Lawson from working as a security guard for 10 years.

A Crown spokesman said in a statement the company's priority is to provide a safe environment for customers and staff.

"Crown ensures that all employees, including security staff, are instructed and trained according to industry-best practice," the statement said.

"As part of its ordinary business practice, Crown regularly reviews, updates and enhances its operating procedures, protocols, policies and training."

The spokesman said it was inappropriate to comment on individual court cases.


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