A good friend of a Gomeroi man who drowned in a Moree river has advised the person’s household at an inquest he's “very sorry” for failing to inform authorities the deceased man, Gordon Copeland, was with him on the night time he died, and that on the time he was fearful of the police.
Copeland, a 22-year-old father of three, drowned within the Gwydir River within the early hours of 10 July 2021. The NSW coroner is analyzing the demise, and counsel aiding, Peggy Dwyer, advised the inquest Copeland went into the water after police adopted the car by which he was a passenger, mistakenly pondering it was stolen.
Jabour Clarke, a good friend of Gordon Copeland, was driving the automobile unlicensed whereas on parole, the inquest heard. In proof given final week on the inquest, police stated they adopted the car after considerations it was driving “erratically”.
Clarke was with Copeland and his girlfriend, Kowhai, who's but to seem. After being intercepted by police, the automobile turned bogged on an unsealed highway and all three left the car and break up up from each other.
Clarke, 21, advised the inquest that he heard Copeland go into the river however couldn't see him. “I heard a giant splash,” he stated.
The inquest into Copeland’s demise heard final week that law enforcement officials known as off the preliminary search after believing there have been solely two individuals within the automobile and each had been secure.
Dwyer requested Clarke why he had not advised authorities or his household that Copeland was within the car.
“I used to be scared I used to be gonna get locked up,” Clarke advised the inquest on Monday. He stated he feared he could be “bashed” by police in the event that they caught him.
“I've been bashed by the coppers earlier than,” he stated to the courtroom beneath questioning from the lawyer performing on behalf of Copeland’s associate and the mom of his two younger kids, Josephine Brown.
Clarke then advised the courtroom he was “sorry”. On the time, he thought Copeland had both been arrested by the police or that he had gotten away.
“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t pondering straight. I used to be panicky and scared and didn’t know what to do. I want I had advised you and advised the police,” Clarke stated to the household.
Clarke stated it was after the police had gone to his grandmother’s and his mom’s properties to make inquiries in regards to the automobile and what had occurred that his considerations grew.
Final week the inquest heard the household had gone to the police station in Moree to report that Copeland was lacking they usually held considerations for his welfare.
The inquest is predicted to listen to from Copeland’s household in its remaining days.
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