‘Tasered student was not a wild, party boy’

25 Mar 2012, 2:58 pm   -   Source: SBS Portuguese Radio

"Betinho" was like a brother to friend Vanessa Bestetti. (Facebook)

The friend of a Brazilian student who died after being shot by a taser gun in Sydney has exclusively told SBS that he was not a "wild party boy" as portrayed by the media.

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The friend of a Brazilian student who died after being shot by a taser gun in Sydney has exclusively told SBS Portuguese Radio that he was not a "wild party boy" as portrayed by the media.

Vanessa Bestetti, who organised a memorial service to be held at Bondi Beach on Sunday, said her friend Roberto Laudisio Curti studied hard, played sports and worked – just like other students.

"He was always happy, I never saw him angry, never saw him feeling down. He was very positive. He was a very pure person, I never saw any ill will in him," she said.

"When we asked him about his plans for the future, he always said that he never knew about tomorrow, that the worst thing in his life had already happened: the loss of his parents, when he was very young. So, he lived intensely."

Robert, or "Betinho" as he was known to friends, died on March 18 after he was tasered by police in Sydney.

Ms Bestetti, who was extremely emotional during the exclusive interview with SBS, said she would remember the good times with the 21-year-old, who was more like a brother to her.

She organised a tribute for him at Bondi Beach as it was one of his favourite places in Sydney.

For more, go to the SBS Portuguese website.

Roberto Laudisio Curti

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