Charges against Josh Papalii dropped after police misused encrypted messaging during proceedings.
A court case against Canberra Raiders NRL star Josh Papalii has been dropped after a judge found police had abused legal processes by using an encrypted messaging app to discuss proceedings.
The 33-year-old was fighting three charges after an alleged incident at the Gungahlin Raiders Club last year, including intimidating police and refusing to leave a licensed venue.
But at an ACT Magistrates Court hearing on Friday, Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker permanently stayed the case, meaning it will be dropped indefinitely, after finding police undermined the integrity of the prosecution by discussing the proceedings in a Signal chat.
Police alleged Papalii was behaving aggressively towards staff after being asked to leave the...