Vic: Capsicum spray lethal warning after police custody death

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2009
Vic: Capsicum spray lethal warning after police custody death

A leading law group warns capsicum spray can be lethal and escalate a volatile situation
.. as investigations continue into the death of a 29 year-old man in police custody overnight.

The man was found dead in the back of a police van at Dandenong police station .. in
Melbourne's south .. after he'd been arrested and sprayed with the chemical device following
a stabbing in Nobel Park.

An autopsy is today being carried out on the man .. who's name is yet to be released.

HUGH DE KRETSER from the Federation of Community Legal Centres says using the spray
can be useless against someone who is in a highly-aggressive or agitated state.

He says instead of diffusing the situation the spray then escalates the incident into
a conflict and can lead to a higher risk of death.

AAP RTV sbl/gfr/sw

KEYWORD: CUSTODY (MELBOURNE)

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