Six charges against Tom Starling were dropped in Gosford Local Court on Thursday as the Raiders hooker was cleared of assaulting police in December.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Starling was slapped with seven charges after a late-night incident on the Central Coast on December 5, and will plead not guilty to hindering an officer - the only offence not thrown out of court on Thursday.
Police had originally filed affray and assaulting an officer charges against Starling, but CCTV footage observed in court on Thursday disproved the claims.
A bruised and battered Starling emerged from lock up the morning after his arrest, sporting several cuts on his face following the scuffle from the night before.
Whether he takes action against the officers involved remains to be seen.
He returned to Raiders training two days later and was vehemently backed by coach Ricky Stuart.
Starling had been out with family in Kincumber on the night of December 5 celebrating a friend's birthday. Fellow NRL stars Kalyn Ponga, Connor Watson and Jack Johns were also in attendance.
The former Newcastle Knight enjoyed a breakout NRL season last year, playing 14 matches and scoring four tries as he cemented himself as Stuart's number one choice at hooker behind injured star Josh Hodgson.
He was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in September, and played a key role in helping Canberra advance to last year's preliminary final after the loss of Hodgson.
His arrest in December marked the second time in a calendar year a Raiders player was wrongfully slapped with charges by NSW police.
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
Centre Curtis Scott was charged on the Australia Day weekend after being woken up and arrested by police while sleeping under a tree in Sydney's Moore Park.
He attended court in September where cameras worn by arresting officers proved their charges against Scott to be erroneous.
Scott's lawyer Sam Macedone has since declared his client intended to sue NSW Police.
The premiership winning former Melbourne Storm star had surgery on a broken leg late last season after an up-and-down first year at the Green Machine.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
