Hurley not happy with verdict
EX-COP Chris Hurley is appealing a court’s decision on dangerous driving charges he faced after a wild police chase.
The controversial former Senior-Sergeant was in July found guilty of two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle following a two-day trial in the Southport Magistrates Court.
The charges related to the May 2015 pursuit of two fugitives who robbed a taxi driver with a tomahawk about 19 hours earlier.
Hurley, who this year medically retired from the Queensland Police Service, was fined a total of $800 for the two offences and disqualified from driving for six months.
He had no convictions formally recorded.
Documents lodged in the Southport District Court show Hurley has lodged an appeal against the findings of guilt on the basis the trial Magistrate, Barry Cosgrove, failed to apply several laws when considering his verdict.
Hurley claims Magistrate Cosgrove failed to apply laws relating to mistake of fact, which should have stopped the ex-police officer being convicted of the first charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
He also claims Magistrate Cosgrove failed to apply laws regarding police powers “to use force against individuals in critical situations” and for that reason Hurley should not have been convicted of the second charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
In July, the court found Hurley had driven dangerously in Pacific Pines, without lights or sirens, and caused several motorists to swerve out of the way.
Magistrate Cosgrove found Hurley continued the chase despite being ordered by police to “pull back”.
Another police officer, Senior-Constable Barry Wellington, has been committed to face trial over the same pursuit.
Chris Hurley declined to comment when contacted yesterday.