Suspend Tasers: gun control lobbyists

21 Mar 2012, 7:20 pm   -   Source: AAP
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The gun control coalition wants Tasers taken off police until an investigation into the death of a 21-year-old Brazilian student is complete.

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Gun control lobbyists have called for the use of Tasers to be suspended after the death of a young Brazilian student who was tasered by police in Sydney.

The National Coalition for Gun Control (NCGC) says the stun guns should not be used until the NSW Ombudsman has finished investigating the incident which culminated in the death of 21-year-old Roberto Laudisio Curti on Sunday.

Mr Laudisio died after he allegedly resisted arrest, with witnesses reporting he was pursued by police after taking packet of biscuits from a CBD convenience store.

"Tasers were introduced to provide officers with an option that they could use in circumstances where they would otherwise use lethal force, such as a semi-automatic handgun," co-chair of the NCGC Sam Lee said in a statement.

"Tasers were meant to prevent fatalities rather than cause them."

She said the NCGC was concerned there were aspects of Taser usage that weren't properly understood and required further investigation.

The NSW Greens and the Council of Civil Liberties have also called for the use of Tasers to be suspended.

Mr Laudisio's uncle, Joao Eduardo Laudisio, denied his nephew was a thief or may have had a pre-existing health condition that made him susceptible to Taser jolts.

The elder Mr Laudisio was a financier from a well-known family in Brazil who helped raise his nephew after Roberto's parents died from cancer when he was young, News Ltd reported.

Mr Laudisio told the Telegraph online from Sao Paulo that his nephew had a health check before his departure last year for Australia.

"I don't understand why newspapers put that he is a robber," Mr Laudisio said.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has reassured the Brazilian government and Mr Laudisio's family the investigation into his death will be independent and transparent.

The NSW ombudsman will oversee a police investigation into Mr Laudisio's death, which is also the subject of a coronial inquiry.

"I say to any country, and the citizens of any country, that Australian law is rigorous," Mr O'Farrell told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

"There is no special treatment in this country of citizens.

"People are treated equally by the justice system, by the policing system, by a range of systems that operate impartially.

"We all want answers, including the government, but we'll allow the police, the ombudsman and the coroner to do their final report."

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has ordered its consulate in Sydney to assist Mr Lausidio's family and "obtain the necessary clarifications from the Australian authorities".

Tasers

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Ms

Sandy - from Shellharbour, 1 year

Police should ask first before doing anything,especially if the person is unarmed or has a mental illness.

More than a little peeved

Trist - from Knox, 1 year

This is for E! Where was your selfless police force 2 weeks ago when I made a 000 call for help after an aggravated burglary!!! And nobody came!! Not even after a second call? Yet a lone, unarmed and I assume unimposing biscuit thief gets 6 police and a lonely death in a foreign country. Our police need to answer some serious questions.

Support police

Mitch - from Queensland, 1 year

Surely the reason for taser use was for resist of arrest rather than stealing cookies. The guy did a runner. For cookies? Hmmm... Bit fishy

A lot of anti-police rhetoric here.

Alex - from Sydney, 1 year

Two seconds of footage isn't much, yet it seems to have been enough to make most people here believe the police deliberately killed an innocent man. Remember the video of Constable Murdoch punching the man at the SCG? What the media did not sensationalise was that the man had been asked multiple times to leave, that he spat on and punched police and security....oh, and was grabbing at the police officer's gun belt. Why don't we wait for the full story before accusing the police of murder, eh?

How Insulting Barry O'Farrell

Paul - from QLD, 1 year

There is no special treatment in this country of citizens. "People are treated equally by the justice system, by the policing system, by a range of systems that operate impartially. What a load of bull $#!t from the Premier Barry O'Farrell, there are plenty of examples in this country where politicians, police, and the well to do people of Australia get away with crimes all the time, if the normal person acted this way in there jobs or in life you would be jailed period.There are two things you can be sure of 1: This young mans family will not see justice. 2: These police officers will get away with killing a Innocent man with no real punishment thank's to a two sided law system.

Disgusting Radio Station Treatment

Craig Stephens - from Thornton, 1 year

This entire situation is just so terribly, terribly sad, not only for the gentleman who lost his life, and his family, but also the police, who I am sure must be devastated. What I found disgusting was the way this topic was treated by the breakfast show on radio station 2sm in Sydney. The very next morning after the man died on the street, the breakfast show began with the words " wake up, or I'll zap you", the sound of zapping and screams could then be heard, followed by "how's that feel?".

Police, what a disgrace

Matt - from Melbourne, 1 year

Im sorry no need to yell E!!! I will have you know that my father was quite a high ranking police officer. Homicide Squad for 20 years. Serious Crash Unit for 10 years before that. I know exactly the capabilities of a police force. At the same time I know what power tripping brutal thugs they can be. Especially on the beat. You sound like a cop E? What would you have done if you were in the same situation?

Tasers are being used as a means of restraint.

Thomas - from Adelaide, 1 year

Tasers are being used as a means of restraint with anyone who is non-compliant. There are other cases from around the country and around the world where they are used in this manner. Police will not get away with using a gun to restrain someone, so why should they be using tasers in the same fashion? In some cases, tasers are just as lethal.

Police, what a disgrace

Matt - from Melbourne, 1 year

I agree Richard, however CCTV footage shows that the boy was not armed, he was just "resisting arrest". It is reported quoting the store convenience store owner, that the boy came in looking for assistance because someone was trying to kill him he then grabbed a packet of biscuits and fled. The boy had 6 "Police" Officers (Thugs) in pursuit who grappled with him and when he took off it is assumed then he was shot with the Taser. Seems slightly over the top, what happened to quality policing?

Ban Tasers

Pushpa - from Perth, 1 year

Very unfortunate end to a young life. Six police officers chased this one young man who stole a packet of biscuits? They pepper sprayed him and as if this was not enough, three of them Tasered him at the same time, no wonder he died. This is truly shocking and outrageous. Police brutality out in the open CBD, that too six cops against an unarmed lone young man. Police are aware that Tasers can induce fatal shock to human body & have caused several deaths in the past. Ban Taser immediately.

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