Father of former Gold Coast bikie associate Liam Scorsese’s heartfelt letter about his son
THE anguished father of Gold Coast bikie associate Liam Scorsese, fatally shot by the police at the weekend, says his son was ‘unhinged and ‘had diabolical lows’ but there was no excuse for police to take his son ‘down like an animal’. READ HIS FULL LETTER
Crime and Court
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THE Gold Coast father of former bikie associate Liam Scorsese has written a heartfelt letter after his son was shot dead by police in Brisbane on Sunday.
Peter Schumacher admits his son was ‘mentally unhinged’ and had ‘diabolical lows’ but has hit out at police for gunning him ‘down like an animal’.
Below is the unedited letter:
“My son Liam was troubled at times. He was at times, mentally unhinged, with extreme highs and diabolical lows. For those who knew him he had the personality of a movie star. He was a business man, entrepreneur and loved life to the full.
THE JEKYLL AND HYDE OF LIAM SCORSESE
“Liam was a man with passion and a heart bigger than anyone I know. He helped so many people. When his good friend Scotty died, he took his son under his wing and became his surrogate dad.
“He took him out, spent time and played with him, taking him to theme parks and buying him presents. He was loved by a multitude of people young and old and in between.
“But the news media have labelled him as a rabid animal.
“Only certain papers and news channels have given him a fair description of who he was after his lawyer put up a post about him. Is this fair news reporting? Is it fair that they report about offences against ambulance officers when all those charges were dropped?
“Why don’t the news mention the compensation he paid to the bus driver and the police officers? Rather they say he was prone to violence and paint him to be a violent thug.
“He was no saint, but he was not heartless. The media love to control to the minds of the public and they are a pack of talking monkeys.
“Where is the proper mental health help for people with mental health problems? The Courts and corrective services knew he suffered at times from mental health problems.
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“The police intel systems have everything negative but never react when they know someone may have been suffering from an illness.
“Where was the appropriate back up or mental health services? And now the police are harassing friends who have posted and have vented anger and grief on Facebook after they have shot dead my son.
“The statement that the “Taser didn’t work” is so convenient. The police carry pepper spray — why was that not used?
“They carry batons why did they not beat him?
“How does it all work that the unions come out immediately saying the police acted bravely, how do they know that?
“We are his family we have every right to the evidence before any other organisation does.
“What about shooting to kill as a last resort? No, instead you took him down like an animal.
“There is no doubt that the inquiry will produce the facts.
“In my eyes, they owe the general public the truth. As a father my heart is broken, and until we have an inquest our questions will not be answered.
“Rest in Peace my Son, I will not rest until you have justice.”
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