Matthew Butcher

Matthew Butcher is a Western Australian Police constable, who received significant media attention following an assault which left him brain damaged, partially paralysed and visually impaired. In 2009, Constable Butcher was awarded the Emergency Services "Pride of Australia" medal. He has also been awarded the Western Australia Police Star, Commissioner's Medal for Excellence and Western Australia Police Medal.

On the evening of February 4, 2008, Matthew Butcher and several other police officers intervened in a pub brawl at the Old Bailey tavern in Joondalup, Perth, opposite the Joondalup police station. One of the men involved, Robert McLeod (55) was shot by Constable Butcher with a Taser stun gun. Robert McLeod's son Barry (28), launched a flying headbutt at Constable Butcher as soon as his weapon was deployed resulting in Constable Butcher being knocked unconscious and falling to the ground, resulting in a broken cheekbone, broken jaw, and bleeding on the brain. The entire incident was captured on a mobile phone video camera from an onlooker.

Constable Butcher was taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for his injuries, where he was placed into an induced coma. Surgery was performed to remove swelling on his brain, however he sustained permanent brain injuries causing impaired motor control and vision. Constable Butcher was discharged from Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in September 2008, however, he remains paralysed from the left side and has not been able to use his left arm since the incident.

Shortly after the incident, Robert McLeod and his two sons Barry and Scott were charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assaulting a public officer, obstructing an officer and making threats to kill. In March 2009, a District Court jury found the accused not guilty of all charges relating to the assault on Constable Butcher. McLeod's lawyers argued the accused acted in self defence when confronted by police, who they said acted with excessive force as they attempted to arrest them.

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