The Brazilian student tasered by police was taking drugs and acting paranoid shortly before his death, according to reports.
Friends of Roberto Laudisio Curti said the 21-year-old had been partying at nightclubs for two days and at one point argued with a friend just hours before he was shot at least three times with a Taser gun during a confrontation with police in inner Sydney last weekend.
A close family friend told the Daily Telegraph a friend called Patrick, who went out with Mr Laudisio on Saturday night, said the English language student’s behaviour was “scary” that night.
“He was saying to Patrick things like ‘I know you wanna kill me’,” the family friend was quoted as saying.
Mr Laudisio reportedly argued with Patrick before taking a taxi to Kings Cross with $150 in his wallet.
Shortly before sunrise on Sunday police said the student had resisted arrest when he was confronted over an incident, reportedly involving stolen biscuits, at a CBD convenience store.
Officers used capsicum spray and a Taser on Mr Laudisio, who stopped breathing and could not be revived.
Ten seconds of security footage emerged on Monday showing police grappling on the street with Mr Laudisio, who breaks free and runs away, pursued by officers apparently pointing Tasers at him.
Brazilian newspaper A Folha said “Beto”, as he was called by family and friends in Sao Paulo, spoke with his sister on the phone shortly before he died.
She said it was a quick conversation and her brother said he was being threatened. She tried to contact him again, without success, the newspaper reported.
Mr Laudisio’s wealthy family has hired a Sydney law firm to conduct an inquiry into his death.
Friends in Brazil are planning to stage a protest outside the Australian consulate in Sao Paulo on March 30. They reportedly plan to dump biscuits at the consulate gates.
Police in Australia continue their investigation.
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