Family and friends of Gordon Copeland have paid an emotional tribute to the Gomeroi man on the last day of the inquest into how he drowned in north-west New South Wales after fleeing police.
WARNING: This article contains an image of an Aboriginal person who has died. It is used with the permission of the family.
Balloons were released into the sky outside the Moree court.
There were 22 of them to represent his age when he drowned in the Gwydir River in the early hours of July 10, 2021.
His body was found three months later, about 500 metres from where he was last seen alive in the water.
A coronial inquest heard he was in a car with two others, which was followed by police before the occupants fled the vehicle.
The NSW Coroner was told he fell into the river after running from officers, and that police on the scene thought he had escaped.
A call for 'Gordon's Law'
On the final day of the inquest, family members packed the court gallery wearing T-shirts and jumpers with Mr Copeland's face printed on them.
The clothing featured slogans including, Gordon's Life Matters, and, Justice For My Boy.
His family told the court that they would like a law called "Gordon's Law", which would govern when police could follow a car near large bodies of water.
Later on the court's front lawn, friends and family gathered to pay tribute to the 22-year-old.
"Today was all about Gordon so today we feel very … we are happy [to] reflect on Gordon's life," his cousin Lesley Fernando said.
The family previously told the inquest they felt police were not showing enough concern for Mr Copeland's welfare when they reported him missing.
"It was emotional to relive everything again," Ms Fernando said.
"It was tough."
The family thanked the Aboriginal Legal Service and said they were proud of its work.
The coroner is expected to deliver recommendations in Moree early next year.
