NSW State Coroner, Mary Jerram, has recommended five police officers face disciplinary action and others go before the Police Integrity Commission for their role in the death of Brazilian student, Roberto Laudisio Curti.
In her critique, Ms Jerram said the actions of many of the 11 officers who arrested Mr Curti in the early hours of March 18 were "reckless, careless, dangerous and excessively forceful."
"They were an abuse of police powers, in some instances even thuggish. Roberto's only foes during his ordeal were the police ... Certainly, he had taken an illicit drug, as has become all too common in today's society. But he was guilty of no serious offence. He was proffering no threat to anyone."
Ms Jerram's findings were handed down in Glebe Coroner's Court this morning following a two-week inquest into the death of the 21 year old.
CURTI INQUEST: TRANSCRIPT OF THE CORONER'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Formal Finding
That Roberto Laudisio Curti died shortly after 6am on March 18, 2012, in Pitt Street, Sydney, in the State of New South Wales, of undetermined causes, in the course of being restrained by members of the New South Wales Police Force.
Recommendations: s 82 Coroner's Act 2009
To the Commissioner of Police
1. That the conduct of Officers Barling, Cooper, Lim, Edmondson and Ralph in
their actions during the pursuit and restraint of Roberto Laudisio Curti be
considered for disciplinary charges.
2. That the actions of police during the pursuit and restraint of Roberto Laudisio
Curti be referred to the Police Integrity Commission.
3. That there be an immediate review of the contents of the relevant NSW Police
Standard Operating Procedures and associated training relating to the use of
Taser, OC spray, handcuffing, restraint and positional asphyxia to:
a. ensure that officers are aware of the dangers of a
i. positional asphyxia;
ii. the multiple use of Tasers and their use in drive stun mode;
iii. the multiple use of OC spray;
b. ensure that guidance provided to officers is clear and consistent, in
particular removing the term “exigent circumstances”;
c. review the criteria for the use of Tasers;
d. consider imposing limitations on the use of Taser in certain
circumstances;
e. consider prohibiting the use of Tasers drive stun mode, other than
where officers are defending themselves from attack;
f. improve training techniques and education in the appropriate and/or
prohibited use of all the above.
g. consider whether Probationary officers should continue to be
authorised to carry Tasers.
h. ensure that the safe management of risks of asphyxia by crush,
restraint or position are included not only in the SOPs for the use of OC
spray but wherever use of force must be applied to a person by a
police officer.
4. That there be a review of communication procedures to ensure that signs of
mental disturbance in any person the subject of a police report be
communicated, and officers trained further to respond accordingly.
5. That there be an examination of NSW Police VKG procedures to ensure
