Two police officers have appeared in court facing charges of unlawfully killing a man, Luke Briggs, who died in hospital after his arrest at a Hoppers Crossing car park. Constable Alexander Papanastassis, 29, and Sergeant James Fitzgerald, 49, attended a hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, where they were represented by legal counsel as the prosecution scheduled future court dates.
Both officers, who have been suspended since the incident in July 2024, are charged with “unlawfully kill Luke Briggs,” following an investigation by the Homicide Squad under the oversight of the Professional Standards Command. Court proceedings revealed that evidence gathered includes CCTV and body-worn camera footage from Victoria Police.
The officers are currently out on bail with specific conditions, such as notifying police of any address changes and surrendering their passports, as confirmed by defence lawyers. They exited the court to a media frenzy and are scheduled to return for a committal mention on December 12.
Briggs, 35, was arrested in a convenience store car park, during which he reportedly became unresponsive. While officers administered CPR and called for medical assistance, Briggs succumbed in a Melbourne hospital’s intensive care unit on July 23, just eight days post-arrest, leaving his family devastated. In their emotional statement following his passing, his loved ones expressed their profound sorrow and called for clarity regarding the circumstances of his death.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam emphasised the importance of thorough investigations into such incidents to maintain public trust, acknowledging that the majority of police officers serve commendably while also stressing that allegations of misconduct will be rigorously examined, irrespective of an officer’s rank.