Gordon Copeland drowning inquest hears friend was scared police would 'bash him'

Gordon Copeland pictured with his son before he went missing near Moree in July 2021. Mr Copeland's body was found in the Gwydir River three months later. (Supplied: Aboriginal Legal Service)

The driver of the car that was chased by police has told a coroner he was scared officers would "bash" him before his friend fell into floodwater.

WARNING: This story contains images and details of an Aboriginal person who has died and have been used with the permission of his family.

Gordon Copeland, 22, drowned in the flooded Gwydir River in Moree in July last year.

He was in a car driven by his friend Jabour Clarke, which sped away from a police car following them before they got bogged next to the river.

Mr Clarke told the inquest he feared the police and thought they would be violent with him.

"I was scared of coppers, like, they'll lock you up, they bash you, especially out of town," he said.

Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Imogen Hogan asked him to explain his evidence.

"Because no-one's around, [there's] more of a chance of them bashing you or doing something to you," he told the coroner.

"Has it happened before?" asked Ms Hogan.

Mr Clarke responded "yeah 100 per cent".

The inquest heard Mr Clarke was on parole at the time, was driving an unregistered car and did not have a licence.

Josephine Brown and her two sons attend the coronial inquest of partner and father Gordon Copeland. (ABC New England North West: Lani Oataway)

Mr Clarke told the coroner he heard a "splash" while he was running from police, but did not go back to help Mr Copeland because he was "panicking" and felt "scared".

He accepted he knew Mr Copeland was missing and police were trying to find him later that morning but did not approach officers with any information.

Counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer asked why he delayed talking to the police.

Peggy Dwyer: "Were you concerned for your friend?"

Jabour Clarke: "Absolutely."

Peggy Dwyer: "Is there a reason you didn't go to the police?"

Jabour Clarke: "I was scared I was going to get locked up."

Car chase

The inquest heard Mr Clarke denied he drove "fast" when he saw a police car in the early hours of July 10.

A full-scale search was conducted three months after Gordon Copeland went missing. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)

The court had previously been told officers followed the car because it sped through an intersection, and they suspected it was stolen.

The lawyer representing several officers, Anders Mykkeltvedt, questioned his testimony and suggested he drove through the give way sign.

Mr Clarke replied that he drove "normal until a copper chases me".

"I'm going to avoid everything to get chased," Mr Clarke said.

Mr Clarke told the inquest he did not stop for police, and would not have even if they put their lights and sirens on.

The inquest continues.