Circumstances:

Shaun Jones was last seen walking in a southerly direction, beside the Stuart Highway approximately 50kms south of Tennant Creek.
Shaun has not been seen since.
If you have information that may assist police to locate Shaun please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Police hold grave concerns for the welfare of missing 41-year-old Shaun Robert Jones, said Acting Superintendent Pauline Vicary from the Tennant Creek and Barkley Division.

Investigations are ongoing in the Tennant Creek area where he was last sighted.

“Shaun was last seen on October 2 heading South from Tennant Creek,” Supt Vicary said.

“Shaun is described as being 180cm tall, with a heavy build, fair complexion, shaved head and blue eyes. He has distinctive tattoos on his left leg and a blue bird tattooed on either his left or right ear lobe. He walks with limp to the right leg.”

Police urge anyone that may have seen Mr Jones or anyone who has any information about him to call them on 131 444.

 

Taxpayers will foot the compensation bill for a homeless man who was bashed by police during an arrest in Adelaide.

Chris Mackie has yet to agree to the confidential settlement offer, which could be up to $100,000.

A 7News crew captured video showing officer Matthew Schwarz and his partner Jennifer Clark arresting Shaun Jones and Christopher Mackie in December 2012.

“Obviously the footage speaks for itself. He's again quite scared to return to the state," Mr Mackie’s lawyer, Andrew Carpenter, said. 

Mr Mackie and his carer Shaun Jones were bashed by Constable Matthew Schwarz during an arrest in Whitmore Square in December 2012.

When assault charges against the pair were thrown out of court, they turned the tables and sued Constable Schwarz, his partner Jennifer Clark and the police force.

On Thursday, there were revelations that Mr Mackie's claim had been settled out of court.

When Constable Schwarz’s lawyer, Samuel Joyce, was asked by reporters if the decision to settle indicated guilt on his client’s behalf, he responded: "I'm not going to make any comment about that".

The terms of the settlement have not yet been negotiated.

Mr Joyce simply responded “thank you” when he was asked how much Mr Mackie would receive, but it could be as much as $100,000.

However, Shaun Jones' claim was thrown out. He has been missing in the Northern Territory since October.

"Unfortunately, we anticipate the worst but hopefully he turns up healthy and safe," said Andrew Carpenter said.

As Mr Mackie's lawyer, he said he hoped this case would help prevent any future incidents of police brutality.

He has urged SAPOL to use the video in the training of its officers.

"The motto of South Australian Police is protect and serve. Hopefully they use this to protect and serve," Mr Carpenter said.

On Thursday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Christopher John Mackie had been offered a settlement in his $100,000 lawsuit.

All that remains is for Mr Mackie — who left SA and has refused to return, still fearful after his ordeal — to sign off on the offer.

However his friend, Shaun Robert Jones, will receive no money after the court dismissed his claim for want of prosecution.

The court was told Mr Jones went missing in Alice Springs last October, and the search for him had since been called off.

Last year, Mr Jones and Mr Mackie filed excessive force and assault compensation claims against SA Police and Constable Matthew Schwarz.

The lawsuits arose from an incident at Whitmore Square in December 2012, which was filmed by Channel 7 and, when shown on television and advertiser.com.au, caused a public furore.

Mr Jones and Mr Mackie were charged over the incident and, at trial, Const Schwarz admitted striking them repeatedly because he feared his weapon “wasn’t working”.

The court condemned his evidence, threw out the charges and ordered SA Police pay $35,000 in court costs.

On Thursday Andrew Carpenter, for the men, said Mr Mackie’s claim was close to being resolved.

“We have reached an in-principle settlement and need only for the terms to be finalised,” he said.

“We have the difficulty of trying to get instructions from our client, who has since last year moved to a remote part of Australia.

“He’s quite scared of returning to the state based on the assault.”

Mr Carpenter asked for six weeks to obtain his client’s signature, and said he could “neither reject nor agree to” SA Police’s application to dismiss Mr Jones’ claim.

“We’ve had no instructions ... I was advised by Mr Mackie in October last year that Mr Jones was missing,” he said.

“I’ve been in contact with missing persons in the NT, multiple times, and of late they had called off the search.”

Magistrate Brionny Kennewell granted the adjournment, dismissed Mr Jones’ claim and refused SA Police’s application for costs.