"The women first fought in June last year to have the charges withdrawn after their lawyers were notified the case would be dismissed because charges were “fatally flawed”.

"That was incorrect, according to prosecutors, who claimed an email to lawyers was sent by someone who did not have the power to make that decision.

"A second attempt to toss the charges was made in November when prosecutors attempted to change their wording.

"Magistrate Andrew McKenna ruled against the changes and on Tuesday [the prosecutors] applied to withdraw the charges …

"“However, we would like to emphasise that the fight is not over. One death in custody, one death by the state is one too many,” Onus said …

"McKenna himself noted the wording of the charge was mangled in a frightful way and “might as well be made by a Martian”."

#MerikiOnus #CrystalMcKinnon
#BlackLivesMatter #DeathsInCustody
#Naarm #Melbourne #AusPol

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/07/victoria-police-withdraw-charges-against-black-lives-matter-protesters