Police used "excessive force" in dealing with a dispute involving members of a western Sydney family accused of assaulting officers, a court has been told.
Ninemsn
Jan.3 2013
Members of the Mehanna family have been charged with assaulting police, resisting police and affray after police responded to reports of a domestic incident at their home in Bankstown, in Sydney's west, at 12.30am (AEDT) on Wednesday.
Police allege members of the family assaulted officers after they were called to the scene.
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As police were in the driveway preparing to leave, a family member allegedly punched a probationary constable, giving him a black eye, police said on Wednesday.
The remaining family members allegedly joined the assault on the officer before other officers came to his aid.
On Thursday, five members of the family were granted bail after appearing via an audio-visual link from the cells at Penrith police station.
As part of their bail conditions, Mohammed Mehanna and his 18-year-old triplets Ali and Zainab Mehanna and Hussain Mehanni are required to report twice a week to Bankstown police station and must live at their Bankstown address.
Another sibling, 21-year old Adele Mehanna, who is charged with affray and resisting police, was also granted bail in a separate hearing.
Appearing for Adele Mehanna, defence lawyer Greg Heathcote told the court there were "two sides to the story" and police had reacted "excessively" in dealing with the matter.
"This is a very emotive matter," he told the court.
"The case of the defence in all matters is excessive force by police.
"In trying to prevent assault on members of his family, as a result, (Adele Mehanna) was arrested.
Prosecutors opposed bail on the grounds that Adele Mehanna had prior police assault charges and five breach of bail conditions.
Appearing agitated, Mehanna interjected as the prosecution put forward its case.
"You are going to make things worse.
"It was a family argument between two girls and police pepper-sprayed my f***ing family.
That's my whole f***ing family."
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Relatives of the family in court appeared visibly upset, crying as Magistrate John McIntosh asked Mehanna to stop interrupting proceedings.
Mr McIntosh imposed strict bail conditions, including requiring Mehanna to report to Bankstown police daily and imposing a curfew between 10pm and 5am (AEDT).
Mehanna and his four other family members are due to appear at Bankstown local court on January 24.
His 41-year-old mother, who has also been charged, is due to appear Bankstown Local Court on February 13.
Mother, Rafah Mehanna 41
Daughter Zainab 18
Father Mohamed Mehanna Mother, Rafah, 41,Ali and Hussain, and daughter Zainab 18, Adel, 21,
Father Mohamed Mehanna
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