Taser cop denies 'thuggery' against Curti

16 Oct 2012, 6:05 pm   -   Source: AAP
A police officer who tasered Roberto Laudisio Curti five times has been accused of thuggery. (AAP)

A police officer who tasered Roberto Laudisio Curti five times has been accused of thuggery. (AAP)

A police officer has denied his actions in drive-stunning Brazilian student Roberto Laudisio Curti were contrary to good policing.

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A Sydney probationary police officer who tasered a Brazilian student five times as he lay handcuffed on the ground surrounded by officers has denied it was an act of "thuggery" and "brutality".

Constable Daniel Barling gave evidence at the inquest into the March 18 death of Roberto Laudisio Curti, 21, at Glebe Coroners Court on Tuesday.

The inquest has heard Const Barling, who at the time held the rank of probationary constable, drive-stunned Mr Curti, or applied the Taser directly to his bare upper body, for periods of seven, five, 14, eight and seven seconds in less than a minute-and-a-half as the young man lay handcuffed on the ground.

It was the first time Const Barling had ever used a Taser outside of police training, the inquest heard.

Mr Curti, originally from Sao Paulo, died at the scene after several police officers chased him through the city, fired their Tasers at him 14 times and restrained him using up to three cans of capsicum spray, handcuffs and batons.

The inquest has heard Mr Curti was suffering from an adverse reaction to a small amount of LSD he had taken with mates the night before to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

He stole two packets of biscuits from a convenience store and some police officers mistakenly believed they were dealing with an armed robber.

The inquest heard Const Barling joined in the pursuit of Mr Curti and fired his Taser twice during the chase.

After the young man was brought to the ground by a Taser fired by another officer, Const Barling said he helped handcuff Mr Curti before drive-stunning him five times, knowing this would cause pain.

"He was still violently resisting police and a violent confrontation was occurring," Const Barling said.

"I think we did what we needed to control the situation."

Const Barling said he knew Mr Curti was being sprayed in the face by capsicum spray at the same time he was drive-stunning him, but said he did not know another officer was also drive-stunning Mr Curti.

"There was no basis for you to cause him pain in this action," counsel assisting the coroner, Jeremy Gormly, SC, said.

"To use the Taser on these five occasions was completely contrary to good policing... It was an act of thuggery on your part."

Const Barling denied this and said he believed each of his actions was "justified".

"I don't believe I would have changed my actions," he said.

Peter Hamill, SC, representing Mr Curti's family, paused the proceedings for seven seconds to illustrate the length of time Const Barling had his finger on his Taser trigger during one of his drive-stuns.

"That's a deliberate, calculated act on your part," Mr Hamill said.

Const Barling denied this.

The inquest heard Const Barling stumbled during the pursuit of Mr Curti and got capsicum spray in his eyes while he was drive-stunning the man.

"You didn't in a moment of anger or lack of control simply taser him again?" Mr Hamill asked.

Const Barling said no and added, "That wasn't Roberto's fault".

He also denied Mr Hamill's assertions that his drive-stunning was "in the realm of brutality".

"I just wanted to control the situation," Const Barling said.

The inquest continues before NSW State Coroner Mary Jerram.

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