The household of Gordon Copeland have instructed an inquest they got a Publish-it observe by police with details about the place to look, and felt disrespected all through the “hurtful, heartbreaking” seek for their liked one, after the Gomeroi man went lacking in a Moree river.
Lesley Fernando, Gordon Copeland’s aunt, gave emotional testimony on Thursday, telling the inquest the Copeland household had waited desperately for data for hours the morning after his disappearance.
Copeland drowned within the Gwydir River within the early hours of 10 July 2021. The inquest has heard the Gomeroi man entered the water after police adopted the automobile he was in, mistakenly pondering it was stolen.
Police formally referred to as off the search after three days however his physique was not discovered till authorities resumed the search three months later, after sustained group strain. His household had not stopped on the lookout for him.
Fernando stated she was given a observe by one of many officers on the Moree police station after combing the riverbank however not realizing the place he went into the water.
Fernando instructed the inquest how she repeatedly requested for extra data on the police station on 11 July 2021 – the night time after Copeland disappeared, because the household wished to report Copeland as a lacking individual.
The inquest has heard an officer had seen a male individual within the river the night time earlier than.
Nevertheless, police didn't essentially imagine Copeland was lacking on the time as they'd been given inaccurate data relating to the occupants within the automobile.
Officers on obligation on the station that night time had been instructed the individual within the river had been “accounted for”.
“Are you able to please give us one thing to assist? We’re out right here knee-deep in mud and grass. We don’t know the place to look,” Fernando stated she requested on the time.
She stated an officer then left the room and got here again with a observe and handed it to her in response.
“That was our assets given to search for our liked one. It stated on the Publish-it observe: 500 metres west of the bridge,” Fernando stated.
Fernando instructed the inquest that relations of Copeland in addition to his associate and mom of his kids, Josephine Brown, had waited for hours within the police station.
“There was lots of concern for Gord’s security and wellbeing. We had been positively scared, we knew by then that Gord hadn’t made contact with anybody,” Fernando stated.
She instructed the inquest that over the three months between Copeland’s disappearance and his physique being found, the household continued to look day by day, making repeated calls.
“On Friday the fifth of August, I made 12 calls in sooner or later. On the 14th of August, I made 14 calls to the Moree police station.
“We would have liked assets and it was solely truthful that they arrive to the desk with one thing,” Fernando stated.
Beneath questioning by the household’s lawyer, Invoice Neild, Fernando stated the household had felt “disrespected” all through the search course of.
“It was disgusting. It was irritating. It was hurtful, it was heartbreaking and it was very, very tiring,” Fernando stated.
“The makes an attempt from myself and different relations that had been being made had been occurring deaf ears.”
Narelle Copeland, Gordon Copeland’s mom, additionally gave transient proof.
She detailed how the household had spent 1000's of dollars and campaigned to boost funds to pay for wetsuits, drones and different tools to assist in their search.
“Boats, meals, petrol, GoPros, the whole lot we would have liked for the search,” Narelle Copeland instructed the courtroom.
She stated Gordon Copeland had tough experiences with cops earlier than his dying, rising up in a number of locations round western New South Wales.
“He was fearful of police, he didn’t belief them,” she stated.
She stated he had beforehand been “bashed by police” and had been dragged off his bike in a earlier interplay with police.
Fernando instructed the inquest how tough she discovered watching proof throughout the proceedings, listening to cops give testimony and seeing body-worn imaginative and prescient that confirmed an officer swearing and utilizing expletives throughout the search.
“We are going to by no means unsee that or unhear that,” Fernando stated.
“I’m a mum, and honesty and respect is a trait that I’ve taught my youngsters. That’s what we'd have appreciated to see on this courtroom to assist us transfer on with our lives.”
The inquest is anticipated to complete this week with relations scheduled to present proof tomorrow adopted by closing statements.
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