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.

Briggs was eventually overpowered and handcuffed but when he was turned onto his side, officers said he was not breathing.

CPR was started until an ambulance arrived and he was taken to hospital.

Police later claimed to have found incriminating evidence that suggested Briggs was more than just a tradie. 

The court heard Briggs was accused of stealing large quantities of insulation batts (pictured), which he was allegedly carting around in an overloaded vehicle the night he died.

The crime scene at the 7-Eleven after Luke Briggs’ arrest  

This included the alleged recovery of an ice pipe, small digital scales, multiple Ziploc bags, a crystallised substance in a plastic bag consistent with meth, and other items associated with drug use. 

The court heard Briggs had bought about ’35 points’ of meth from a woman earlier that day. 

However it remains unclear if toxicology results later found meth in his system at the time of the fatal confrontation.

The court heard Briggs had become increasingly unpredictable since at least 2020.  

This included multiple driving-while-disqualified and unlicensed driving offences, handling stolen goods and dealing with suspected stolen property. 

The court heard Briggs was accused of stealing large quantities of insulation batts, which he was allegedly carrying in an overloaded vehicle on the night of his arrest.

He was further accused of a string of violent and threatening incidents, including grabbing a man by the throat and attempting to choke him, fights on building sites, and producing a sledgehammer and smashing up a house after being told his services were no longer required. 

The court heard Briggs was charged amid claims he damaged property by throwing paint all over the front door pathway of a house that was set to be auctioned. 

James Fitzgerald (front) and Alexander Papanastassis (right) leave the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in Melbourne last year

Luke Briggs (pictured with sister Catherine) was surrounded by family after his life support was turned off 

‘He then attended the auction [and was seen] by multiple witnesses watching and smiling as those attending the auction were advised the auction had been cancelled,’ defence barrister Ian Hill, KC said. 

On the night Briggs died, he had been with a female passenger who, the court was told, ‘legged it’ when police pulled them over. 

She later messaged a friend denying any involvement in a rumoured service-station hold-up, claiming they had only bought a lighter. 

That woman, who remained in jail on Monday, has an extensive criminal record taking up 11 pages of criminal history. 

She is expected to be called to give evidence in the current hearing.  

The Police Association has vowed to stand by the two officers and support them.

‘These members went out that night to protect the community,’ Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said last year.

‘Today, 18,000 other police and PSOs will be doing that same job and may well encounter the same challenging circumstances these members faced.

‘They would expect us to stand with these members. We will. We will be by their side and support them fully as they navigate the difficult path ahead.’

The hearing continues.