18 Jun 2009

Taser death: stun gun fired 28 times

Australian civil liberties groups are demanding a more thorough investigation after it emerged a Queensland man who died during an arrest last week may have been tasered by police more than 20 times.

taser-belt

Queensland Police initially told the media the Taser was used up to three times when officers tried to arrest Antonio Galeano during a violent struggle at Brandon, south of Townsville, last Friday.

The 39-year-old collapsed and died a short time after being stunned by the 50,000 volt gun. Data collected from the weapon reveals it was fired 28 times. The data does not reveal the target.

Further testing is being done but the police union is standing by the officer who fired the weapon.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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