Two Victoria Police officers were charged with negligent manslaughter and appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday over the death of 35-year-old tradie Luke Briggs, who suffered a fatal brain injury during an arrest outside a 7-Eleven in Hoppers Crossing last year.
Constable Alexander Papanastassis, 29, and Sergeant James Fitzgerald, 45, fronted the court for a brief filing hearing and will remain on bail to return on December 12. Few details of the alleged offending were revealed at the short proceeding, and both men are expected to defend the charges. They are being represented by Tony Hargreaves & Partners and declined to comment when approached by media outside the court.
Briggs was arrested on July 15 last year by the two officers over alleged traffic-related offences in a car park near the Hoppers Crossing 7-Eleven in Melbourne’s west. He became unresponsive after an altercation during the arrest and was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition, where he was placed in an induced coma. Life support was switched off eight days later while he was surrounded by family and friends.
Homicide detectives investigated Briggs’s death with oversight from Victoria Police’s Professional Standards Command before the charges were laid on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said the force would not shy away from taking action to uphold community trust and confidence and that incidents of this nature would be thoroughly investigated regardless of an officer’s rank or tenure.
"I understand the news today will be concerning and difficult for many in the community," Steendam said. "The overwhelming majority of our police do the right thing, day in and day out, and provide exemplary service to the community. However, it is vital that where incidents such as this occur, they are investigated thoroughly. Our thoughts today are also with the Briggs family, and we will ensure they continue to have a range of support services in place as the matter progresses."
Briggs’s family has publicly mourned his death and marked the first anniversary with a memorial in Hoppers Crossing. His sister, Catherine, told media at the memorial that the family remained unable to move on and that delays in the matter had compounded their grief. The family’s lawyer, Sarah Condon of Robinson Gill Lawyers, said the family remained "utterly distraught" and would not make further public comment while criminal proceedings were under way.
The Police Association of Victoria said it would stand by the two officers. Association secretary Wayne Gatt said the members had gone out that night to protect the community and the association would support them "as they navigate the difficult path ahead."
The charges come as Victoria Police face other operational pressures and public scrutiny, including the recent deaths of two officers in a shootout with fugitive Dezi Freeman and preparations for a large policing operation in Melbourne’s central business district amid planned protests that have drawn both far-left and far-right groups.
The brief court appearance on Friday was a preliminary step in proceedings that will move through the magistrates’ court. Further details of the alleged conduct were not disclosed at the hearing. The two officers will next appear on December 12, and the matter will proceed through the usual legal processes.
The homicide investigation and subsequent charges follow protocols for incidents involving serious injury or death in police contact. Victoria Police said it would continue to provide support to those affected and cooperate with the ongoing legal process.