An assault charge has been quietly dropped against a man arrested after a violent confrontation between protesters at a speaking venue for NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham.
Three men were arrested after a small group of LGBTQI peaceful protesters were attacked outside a church in the Sydney suburb of Belfield before Mr Latham’s speech in March.
The MP had been invited to speak at the church hall about parental rights before the NSW state election.
One of the men arrested was charged with common assault after a large mob attacked police and protesters with glass bottles and other projectiles.
A constable was injured and the riot squad was called to disperse the out-of-control crowd.
The charge against the 41-year-old was dropped before he was scheduled to appear for the first time at Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday.
No findings have been made against him.
The two other men arrested over the incident are still in the courts.
Christian Sukkar was charged with encouraging the commission of crimes.
He claims a provocative video he made was not meant to encourage violence.
In the video he said, “You go there tomorrow and you f—ing shake them up, and you drag them by the f—ing head, and you remove them from St Michael’s Belfield.
“Time to rise, time to let them know where we stand,” he said.
Sukkar will next appear at Bankstown Local Court on June 1.
Adam Richard Touma was charged with assaulting a police officer during public disorder, hindering or resisting an officer in the execution of duty and affray.
He will face Bankstown court on June 6.
