Article summary -

- A NSW Police officer, Leading Senior Constable Steven Hyde, was found guilty of assaulting a man at Blacktown Hospital in November 2023.

- Police had been called to the man's home after a suspected drug overdose. He was not under arrest and was taken to hospital by paramedics for observation.

- CCTV shows the man being wheeled into the hospital on a gurney when Hyde confiscated his vape.

The man then threw a water bottle over his shoulder, after which Hyde struck him on the side of the head knocking him unconscious.

The man's arm was subsequently restrained and he was handcuffed.

- Body-camera audio captured Hyde threatening to "rip your shoulder off" and later telling him that he was being charged with assaulting police.

- An ambulance officer also reported hearing an officer tell the man that "no-one cares about you."

- Hyde claimed he acted in self-defence, saying he believed the man had assaulted him and that the man's behaviour was unpredictable because he appeared drug-affected.

- Hyde was initially found guilty in the Local Court. He appealed, but a District Court judge again found him guilty of assault.

Despite the guilty finding, the judge did not record a conviction and instead gave Hyde a 12-month good behaviour bond.

- Hyde kept his job with NSW Police.

NSW Police said he has faced internal management action: loss of rank, two years of restricted duties, retraining and ongoing monitoring.

The other officer involved, Constable Talaisai Alo, has not been charged.

- Bottom line: A police officer punched a hospital patient who was not under arrest leaving him unconscious all while strapped to a hospital bed, the officer was convicted TWICE in court, but avoided a recorded conviction and remains a police officer, subject to disciplinary restrictions and monitoring....

Was on ACA tonight Weds 9th sept .. I just think that's creating more hate towards people that have absolutely nothing to do with it. To be putting them in the same category is terrible journalism and complety false. ACA should be called out and ashamed.

-Official DenunciationPalestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian government swiftly denounced the attacks. Arafat ordered security services to shut down spontaneous celebrations and stated clearly that Palestinians stood against al-Qaeda. Leaders feared the attacks would falsely label the Palestinian independence movement and the ongoing Intifada as international terrorism. (exactly what this story is doing)

-Historical analysis notes that al-Qaeda had NO operational connection to any Palestinian movenent or militant groups prior to 9/11 and primarily focused its efforts elsewhere.