The devoted mum of a troubled man killed by police says the inquest into his death is an opportunity for authorities to take some responsibility.
Judy Deacon made an impassioned plea during the first day of her son Jesse's inquest on Monday, after an application was made to suppress the identity of the police officer who killed him.
Mr Deacon, 43, was shot by police in his Sydney apartment in July 2023 after a neighbour called emergency services saying he was bleeding from an attempt at self-harm.
A coroner heard Mr Deacon was seen carrying a knife between six and eight inches long when officers entered the Glebe unit.
He was shot with a Taser before another officer used his firearm.
Mr Deacon died of blood loss from the gunshot wound.
Barrister Timothy Lowe, acting for the officer who used his firearm, told the NSW Coroners Court an interim non-publication order was necessary to protect the officer's mental health.
However, Ms Deacon, acting on behalf of her family without a lawyer, objected to the secrecy.
"I'm not here to be adversarial; I want this to be a positive experience," she said.
"But everyone needs to take ownership of what happened on that day."
Coroner David O'Neil sided with the officer, ruling that their identity and physical likeness could not be published.
Over the course of the two-week inquest, the coroner will investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, including the police use of force and their decision to enter his apartment.
The court was told Mr Deacon had an extensive psychiatric history dating back to his teenage years.
He was admitted to hospital and mental health inpatient units multiple times, but struggled with treatment for his schizophrenia, counsel assisting Donna Ward SC said in her opening submission.
She told the court Mr Deacon's consistent use of illicit drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine, meant he often became violent or aggressive.
But Ms Ward stressed the purpose of the inquest was not to blame Mr Deacon for the circumstances that led to his death.
"This is not victim blaming; we know Jesse was unwell," Ms Ward said.
"But the court needs to frankly acknowledge the risks Jesse sometimes posed."
Mr Deacon was remembered by his family as creative, curious and a music lover.
His mental health decline meant his later years were defined by constant interactions with clinicians and police, the coroner heard.
Supporters of Mr Deacon and his family were present in court and carried a banner calling for an end to deaths in police custody.
His mother implored Judge O'Neil to frame his recommendations around people with lived experience of helping a loved one in mental health crisis.
"The whole system needs a big shake-up ... the health services need to listen, police need to listen," Ms Deacon said.
"Nobody cares about us; they never listen."
In the last decade, NSW Police have been involved in a string of high-profile deaths of people suffering mental illness.
Joel Cauchi, who suffered from schizophrenia, was shot dead by Inspector Amy Scott after killing six people in a stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction in 2024.
An inquest into the 2019 shooting death of Todd McKenzie while he was suffering a psychotic episode found the death was preventable and urged police to alter procedures regarding mental health episodes.
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