Police officer laughs and uses expletive to describe missing Aboriginal man in video shown at inquest

An inquest is investigating the death of Gordon Copeland, who drowned in a river in Moree after allegedly running from police. Photograph: Supplied by the family & ALS

The inquest into the drowning death of Gomeroi man Gordon Copeland has been shown footage in which an officer is heard saying “fuck this little cunt” and laughing during the initial search of a New South Wales river.

Copeland, a 22-year-old father of three, drowned in the Gwydir river in Moree in the early hours of 10 July 2021.