Sydney, Nov 21: Australian police today dropped charges against Chris Martin, lead singer of British band Coldplay, who was accused of vandalising a photographer's car during the band's tour of Australia. A spokesman for the courthouse in Byron bay on the northern new South Wales coast told a news agency "the matter against martin has been withdrawn and dismissed". Police charged the Frontman on July 20 with malicious damage after a photographer alleged martin smashed his car windscreen and let the air out of its tyres. The photographer, Jon Lister, claimed Martin vandalised his car after he told the singer he had photographed him surfing at seven mile beach.

Martin, 26, was on holiday with actress girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow at the time. He did not appear in court today.
Police did not explain why they had dropped the charges.

Bureau Report