Two Victoria Police officers cleared of manslaughter over man's death

Two Victoria Police officers have been cleared of manslaughter charges in connection with the death of Luke Briggs, who died eight days after his arrest in July 2024. Constable Alexander Papanastassis, 30, and Sergeant James Fitzgerald, 46, were initially charged with negligent manslaughter but fought the charges at a committal hearing.

A Melbourne magistrate, Patrick Southey, ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict the officers and dismissed the case. Southey compared the situation to the high-profile case of George Floyd, an African American man who died in police custody in the United States in 2020. While Southey acknowledged the parallels, he stated that the circumstances were different and concluded that the officers were doing their best in the circumstances.

The family of Luke Briggs is separately suing the state, alleging that the officers breached their duty of care. They also accuse Victoria Police of failing to properly supervise, control, or train their employees. The Police Association Victoria, representing the officers, stated that it stands by its members and supports them throughout the process.