BYRON BAY, Australia, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Australian police Friday dropped a charge of malicious damage against rock group Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
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 and paid restitution for the damage, the London Sun reported.
Martin was with actress girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow at the time and was due to perform at a music festival.
Photographer Jon Lister said Martin vandalized his car and let the air out of his tires after he told the singer he had photographed him surfing.
"Investigations indicated there was a degree of provocation causing the 26-year-old man's (Martin's) actions," a police spokeswoman said.
