Police security officer acquitted of domestic violence charges in South Australia

A police security officer has been acquitted of domestic violence charges following a trial in South Australia's District Court.

Tim Waverley Morrison, of Aldinga Beach, stood trial earlier this year after pleading not guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated threatening life.

Judge Lisa Dunlop acquitted Mr Morrison but said that did not mean the "complainant has lied in her evidence".

An Adelaide judge has found a police security officer not guilty of domestic violence charges, but has said that does not mean the "complainant has lied in her evidence".

Tim Waverley Morrison, 36, of Aldinga Beach, stood trial by judge alone earlier this year after pleading not guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated threatening life, against his partner, in the latter half of 2019.

A prosecutor told the court at trial that, in one instance, Mr Morrison was alleged to have held a police-issued firearm to his now former partner's chest, and on another occasion, held a knife to her neck.

Delivering her verdict today, Judge Lisa Dunlop acquitted Mr Morrison.

"The verdict should not be seen as a finding that the complainant has lied in her evidence,"

she said.

"I have carefully assessed her evidence, and it has not satisfied me, as to the charged acts, beyond reasonable doubt."

Judge Dunlop explained that proof beyond reasonable doubt was "a high standard".

"There are too many deficiencies in the evidence to permit me to reach that conclusion to that standard," she said.

"It's not sufficient for the court to decide a case on what probably happened during the alleged incidents or to hold suspicions, even strong ones about that.

"The verdicts are simply a product of the exacting standard of proof in a criminal trial."

Outside court, Mr Morrison's lawyer James Caldicott said his client was "very grateful for the court process".

"Obviously, Tim has always maintained his innocence in respect of this, but for all intents and purposes we just ask for peace and for the family to be able to move forward," he said.

Mr Morrison was asked by reporters if he felt vindicated, to which he responded: "Yes."

He did not answer questions put to him about whether he would return to work as a police security officer.