A Tamworth Regional Councillor has been found not guilty of a vandalism attack carried out on a local business in March last year.
Councillor Mark Rodda, 57, appeared in Tamworth Local Court yesterday to face one count of damaging or destroying property relating to a graffiti attack on the Central Hospitality Group building in Bourke St on the morning of 16 March.
The court was told Mr Rodda’s car was caught on CCTV parked near the building on the morning of the incident.
Police say an offensive word was spraypainted onto the building and a sign in the adjacent carpark were also sprayed with graffiti.
Cr Rodda told the court he could have been driving in the area on the morning of the incident but denied any involvement in the vandalism attack.
The court also heard that there had been some level of animosity between Cr Rodda and the Central Hospitality Group business via social media posts prior to the incident.
In dismissing the charge, the Magistrate said that while she had suspicions about what Cr Rodda was doing in the area at the time of the attack, she was unable to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that he was responsible for the vandalism.
Speaking to media outside the court, Cr Rodda said “a weight had been lifted off him” with the conclusion of the case.
“All I can say, I stand by what the magistrate just said – ‘let the verdict speak for itself’.”
“I’m glad it’s over and I’m glad for the result that the court just provided.”
