False evidence given in trial of two huge rugby league stars

Yesterday it was confirmed that two of the NRL’s biggest stars were facing court in the shape of soon to be South Sydney Rabbitohs teammates Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton.

Former Australia and New South Wales teammates the duo, are set to become teammates at club level after Wighton agreed to sign for the Bunnies in one of the biggest transfers ahead of the 2024 season.

But after an altercation the two were arrested and faced court this week but in the hearing it has emerged that police offer Sergeant Power gave false evidence.

Wighton was issued an exclusion notice – that he was later charged with contravening – because he had “pushed and shoved” a man inside, and showed “aggressive” behaviour, namely clenched fists and an “angry expression”, the court was told on Monday.

Mitchell was also charged with affray and obstructing police. This came with his friends capturing his arrest on camera and claiming officers engaged in “police brutality” while attempting to cuff him.

Sergeant Power had told the court on Monday Wighton had an “angry expression” and had “clenched fists” inside the club which had prompted him to expel the Raiders player from the premises.

But Sergeant Power was later played CCTV and body-camera footage from the time of the alleged incident inside the club.

No incident involving Wighton could be seen in the footage, and Sergeant Power admitted: “What I saw didn’t line up with the footage” and conceded he had a “memory issue”.

“What I saw appears to have not happened, and my memory has failed me,” he said.

Wighton’s lawyer then accused Sergeant Power of trying to “frame” his client by “inventing” evidence.

“It wasn’t a lie. It’s what I believed happened,” Sergeant Power said and denied misleading the court and would even apologise to Wighton.

“Sorry Jack, if that’s what happened. I thought I saw something different,” he said.

Under further questioning, Wighton’s council asked if it was a “fact you’ve given false evidence”, to which Sergeant Power said it “appeared as so”.

The trial continues over the next few days as the new NRL season sits on the horizon after the completion of the Pacific Championships.