Post by Taxigirl on Nov 21, 2003 10:44:45 GMT
A charge of malicious damage against Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has been dropped by Australian police.
The 26-year-old musician allegedly smashed a press photographer's windshield after an argument in the resort town of Byron Bay on July 20.
It is not clear why the case was dismissed, but the singer asked for it to be dropped at an earlier hearing.
Martin was with actress girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow at the time, and was due to perform at a music festival.
The photographer, Jon Lister, said Martin had vandalised his car and let the air out of his tyres after he told the singer he had photographed him surfing.
A police spokeswoman said: "Investigations indicated there was a degree of provocation causing the 26-year-old man's [Martin's] actions.
"Further basis for not proceeding was [that Martin] is a person of prior good character who admitted his guilt when spoken to police, expressed his contrition and has since paid reparations for the damage."
Martin was not in court for the hearing.