Brazilian Death Leads to Judicial Critique

Calling to mind the devastating death of Brazilian student Roberto Laudisio Curti at the hands of police on Sydney streets, the Brazilian government has written a stunning criticism of the Australian policing and judicial system.

Roberto Curti was crash tackled to the ground on Sydney's bustling Pitt Street after stealing a packet of biscuits from a convenience shop late one night in March of 2012, after taking significant amounts of LSD.

The crime was mistakenly reported by the shop assistant as an armed robbery and Sydney police responded with over a dozen armed officers. Curti was spotted running through Pitt street without a shirt, and was subsequently tackled to the ground, handcuffed, sprayed with over three cans of capsicum spray and tasered 14 times. The 21-year old died in the ordeal, allegedly as a result of partial asphyxiation and excessive use of taser guns.

The Brazilian government has written a diplomatic but unabashedly sombre critique of the investigation after three of the four officers charged over Roberto's death have been found not guilty, whilst the only officer successfully charged was Senior Constable Damien Ralph over the excessive use of capsicum spray.

The letter, written in late December of 2014, states that the Brazilian government “wishes to convey the frustration of the family of Roberto Laudisio Curti endorsed by the Brazilain government, regarding the results of the judgement concerning police officers involved in the operation which resulted in the death of the Brazilian national”.

Whilst NSW Greens Senator David Shoebridge has stated that it is “almost unheard of for another nation to be making this frank and critical of the judicial system and of the police oversight system in Australia.”, efforts continue to over-ride the decision of the Indonesian government regarding the conviction and sentence of two Australian drug smugglers who are set for execution this month.

Perhaps critical assessment isn't so much unheard of, as it is unsettling for Australia to be the nation shamed.

By Erin Lawson