Court told Andrew Patrick Lesange was tasered, ‘jumped on’ by SA Police, is now in a coma and may not survive brain injury

A man lays dying in the RAH after suffering an irreparable brain injury during his arrest by SA Police, a court has heard – with his family struggling to be by his side.

 

A man who was tasered and “jumped on” by SA Police during a mental health episode remains in intensive care following unsuccessful brain surgery and it is “doubtful he will survive”, a court has heard.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court has heard Andrew Patrick Lesage is in the RAH, on the maximum amount of oxygen and sedation, and in an induced coma, with pneumonia.

His family, meanwhile, are unable to be by his side because he is technically in custody on assault and property damage charges – meaning he is under 24-hour guard and they must seek permission to visit him.

On Thursday, Mark Twiggs, for Mr Lesage, asked the court to intervene and order his client be “released, in a legal sense” so that he could surrender himself later if he survives.

“It’s a novel suggestion and one I need to explain,” he said.

“Police tasered Mr Lesage and, when he fell forward, he was jumped on by police … he got arrested and taken to the RAH with injuries to his brain.

“He had brain surgery which has not been successful, and he’s now got pneumonia on the lungs … he’s in a coma, and it’s doubtful he will survive.”

Mr Lesage, 39, of Hectorville, is charged with offences including aggravated assault with a weapon, threatening to cause harm to another, and property damage.

The charges arise from an incident at his home on November 19.

Andrew Patrick Lesage was, the court heard, tasered by SA Police. Picture: Supplied

On Thursday, Mr Lesage did not attend court in person or by video link – Mr Twiggs said that was because he was physically incapable of doing so.

“He’s in a coma, and he’s been that way since the day of the alleged offending,” he said.

The charges, he said, did not reflect the full circumstances of the matter.

“My client was in the care of two carers at his house, which he owns, because he has mental health issues,” he said.

“He damaged a carer’s car, they reported it to their boss and were told to report it to the police … in their statement, they say they were shocked when three police vehicles came.

“By that time, Mr Lesage was damaging a fence – his fence, the one at his home – and was tasered.”

Mr Twiggs said his client’s custodial status made no sense.

“He has a guard in his room at all times … when his family want to visit him, and he has a large family, that has to be approved by authorities,” he said.

“He doesn’t have bail because he can’t agree to nor sign bail conditions because he’s in a coma.

“I can’t agree to bail for him, because police want him to agree to stay 50m away from the scene of the incident – and that’s his own home.”

Magistrate David McLeod asked a police prosecutor if their attitude toward bail was “really necessary” given the situation, and she said she would raise it with her superiors.

Mr Lesage’s case was adjourned until next week to allow the prosecutor time to seek instructions.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.