Published: 05:56 BST, 24 August 2026 | Updated: 06:01 BST, 24 August 2026
A violent tradie suspected of using meth, with a history of assaults, theft and driving offences, died after a chaotic struggle with Victoria Police officers, a court has heard.
Luke Briggs, 35, was arrested by the officers over alleged traffic-related offences in a car park in Hoppers Crossing, in Melbourne's west, on July 15, 2024.
On Monday, Victoria Police officers Constable Alexander Papanastassis, 30, and Sergeant James Fitzgerald, 46, fronted Melbourne Magistrates' Court charged with negligent manslaughter.
Briggs, a local builder, became unresponsive and was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition, where he was placed in an induced coma.
His life support was turned off eight days later while he was wearing his favourite Bunnings jumper, a beer by his bedside, and surrounded by his loved ones.
The court heard Briggs had been known to police for years for his erratic and lawless behaviour.
According to the official use-of-force report prepared on the day of the incident, officers reported spotting a suspicious vehicle and took a closer look.
Briggs allegedly got out of the driver's seat and became 'evasive and wouldn't provide his details'.
Luke Briggs, 35, was arrested by the officers over alleged traffic-related offences in a car park in Hoppers Crossing, in Melbourne's west, on July 15, 2024 and died eight days later
The court heard the officers attempted to detain him to confirm his identity.
But the 'large male', as he was described in the report, tried to flee and the officers said they wrestled with him but were 'being overpowered'.
The court heard they lashed out with their batons but the strikes had 'nil effect', before they used pepper spray foam on Briggs.
But that also didn't work, the court heard, prompting the officers to then use a 'seatbelt hold' on him.
The martial arts move used by law enforcement sees one arm go over the target's shoulder while the other goes under the opposite armpit, mimicking a car seatbelt.