Police officer could be charged after shooting man in Melbourne's north

A Victorian police officer who shot dead a man in Melbourne's north has been referred to prosecutors for criminal charges.

State Coroner John Cain found Constable Emmanuel Andrew's decision to fire a third and fatal shot at Gabriel Messo on July 16, 2020, was "gravely concerning".

In his findings into Messo's death, Cain said Andrew might have committed an indictable offence during the shooting.

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The coroner on Thursday referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, saying homicide-related offences or conduct endangering life charges should be considered.

Messo, who had diagnosed bipolar, was stabbing his mother Lilla in her head and neck with a stick at John Coutts Reserve when Andrew and another officer arrived on the scene.

Andrew ran ahead of his police partner and shot Messo twice after the 30-year-old did not follow instructions to drop his weapon.

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Cain determined it was reasonable for Andrew to fire the first two shots as Mrs Messo was still being attacked.

But the third and final shot occurred when Messo had already moved away from his mother and had dropped his weapon, Cain found.

The coroner was not satisfied that a reasonable amount of force was used in that final shot.

Cain also noted in his findings the lack of appropriate mental health care Messo received in the days before his death.

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The 30-year-old was brought to the Royal Melbourne Hospital under police guard the day before his death.

He appeared either drug-affected or in a psychotic episode when he was arrested after an incident at his aunt and uncle's house earlier that morning, but was assessed as safe to be discharged.

Messo was later released on bail from Broadmeadows Police Station.

His mother survived the attack at the reserve but now lives with an acquired brain injury.

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