Family mourns NSW Riverina man's death in custody from likely cocaine overdose

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a day ago

The family of a southern NSW man who died in police custody hours after he was arrested following a positive roadside drug test has labelled their loss as "worse than our worst nightmare".
Griffith man Hugo Diaz Knox, 25, died less than four hours after his arrest by NSW Highway Patrol officers along Burley Griffin Way at Stockinbingal in the Riverina on September 30, 2022.
On Thursday, his mother Virgina told the inquest at Wagga Courthouse her son "loved his family more than anything".
"We are facing worse than our worst nightmare. Living without our child, our hearts are shattered," she said.
She recalled one of her last memories with her son when he came over to her place with his children for dinner.
"He was always in a hurry, [but] … that night he stayed for hours," she said.
She also thanked police for their condolences to the family.
"Nothing will bring our son home, and we all make mistakes, but we forgive," she said.
Reading a statement for her brother Jose, Mr Diaz Knox's sister Katie said "not a single day goes by without a thought of him".
His brother Adonis also reflected on his grief.
"Nothing I ever say will ever bring my little brother back, but I continue to pray justice will be served," he said.
Katie said the incident had shaken her faith in law enforcement.
Earlier in the inquest, Constable Amanda Bittman became emotional on the witness stand, revealing she did not feel the need to constantly supervise Mr Diaz Knox due to his "polite and compliant" nature.
The inquest previously heard concerns Mr Diaz Knox was not adequately supervised following his arrest — contrary to police procedure requiring constant face-to-face contact with persons in custody.
She expressed condolences to his family and said she thought about that day regularly.
"I really struggled with how just a simple vehicle stop could turn into an absolute tragedy in what was a horrific day," she said.
Police pulled Mr Diaz Knox over shortly after 6pm on September 30, and after testing positive to cocaine, he was arrested and taken to Cootamundra police station.
Once there, his condition deteriorated and he suffered seizures, before passing away at Cootamundra Hospital shortly after 9:30pm.
An expert later found his cause of death was likely due to acute cocaine toxicity.
The inquest previously heard Mr Diaz Knox likely ingested two bags of what was believed to be a large amount of cocaine after he was arrested.
On Tuesday, Senior Constable Cameron Smith told the inquest he recalled hearing Mr Diaz Knox "sniffing and snorting air through his nostrils", while on duty at Cootamundra Police Station on the night of the man's death.
However, he said this did not alert him to that fact that he may have taken drugs, despite seeing white crumbs on the floor of the man's cell.
On arrival at the police station, officers also found a white substance on the floor of the police vehicle Mr Diaz Knox was placed in.
The inquest has been adjourned while awaiting further evidence about CCTV footage in the rear of police vehicles.