Inquest told Courtney Topic, who was shot dead by police, was likely suffering from undiagnosed schizophreniaRadio calls about a knife-wielding woman shot dead by police near a Sydney fast-food restaurant told responding officers she was talking to herself and had a large knife pointed at her stomach, an inquest has heard. Senior constable Paul Falzon told the Glebe coroners court on Thursday that, when he heard these calls, mental health or drug issues came to mind. “We tried to attend as quickly as we could.”The inquest is investigating the death of Courtney Topic, who was shot by an officer near the West Hoxton Hungry Jack’s car park in February 2015. Police radio calls on the day of her death reveal responding officers were told the “distressed” woman was “talking to herself” and pointing a large carving knife at her stomach. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAPThey also heard the young woman in a striped top and jeans was “waving” the knife about and “hitting herself in the head”.

Source: The Guardian March 22, 2018 06:11 UTC