The South Sydney Rabbitohs have backed Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton following the dismissal of charges against the star players and condemned the use of police force on Mitchell.
Charges against the pair were dropped on Wednesday after the most senior police officer involved in their arrest admitted to giving false evidence.
Mitchell had been charged with affray, fighting in a public place and resisting a territory official, while Wighton had been charged with fighting in a public place and failing to comply with an exclusion direction.
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Following the prosecutors' decision to drop the charges, the Rabbitohs released a statement backing the pair.
"The South Sydney Rabbitohs welcome today's dismissal of charges against players Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton in the ACT Magistrate's Court regarding charges laid by ACT Police in February 2023," the statement read.
"The charges against both players were dismissed following evidence presented to the court which confirmed neither player had conducted themselves in a manner pursuant to the charges which were laid.
"The club fully supports the comments of Latrell's solicitor, Tom Taylor from Hugo Law Group, following the dismissal of the charges.
"At no stage did Jack Wighton engage in violent or aggressive conduct, and there was no need for police to use the level of force that Mr Mitchell endured.
"These charges have also weighed heavily on both players over the past eight to nine months. They have shown great courage and resilience in fighting to prove the charges laid were false and unwarranted."
Mitchell described the ordeal as a "traumatic experience" when speaking to reporters outside court.
"I hope everyone knows and understands the seriousness of what's going on and (it was) a massive hit on the community," he said.
"For the last 10 months it's been very hard for not only myself but my family and what they've had to read and endure … (it's a) traumatic experience that I've had of Canberra."
Wighton, who played 242 games for the Canberra Raiders, is set to link up with Mitchell on the Rabbitohs from 2024 after signing a four-year deal with the club earlier this year.
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