A police officer has delivered a teary apology to the family of Gordon Copeland during the coronial inquest into the Gomeroi man's death.
Senior Constable Crystal Manusu appeared as a witness again on Tuesday, the second day of the inquest examining the efforts made by New South Wales Police to find the 22-year-old, and whether authorities were in pursuit of him before he died.
Mr Copeland's body was found submerged in the Gwydir River in Moree three months after he ran into the water in adverse weather early on the morning of July 10 2021. Questions remain on whether the car Mr Copeland was in immediately beforehand had been pursued by police.
In a statement Gordon's mum, Narelle Copeland, said life was not the same without her son.
"I want to find out exactly what happened that night. I want answers," she said.
Searching ceased after 13 minutes
It was Senior Constable Manusu's decision for the officers present to conclude the initial search for Mr Copeland after a total of 13 minutes, using dark torches.
"I wanted to offer my sincerest apologies to the family and friends of Gordon Copeland and to the community," Manusu said.
"I'm a mother, I'm an aunt, I'm a daughter and if something happened to my family, I would be devastated and beside myself.
"I joined this job to help others and protect the community and with the benefit of hindsight if there was anything I could've done differently that would've changed the outcome I would do it without hesitation. I am truly and sincerely sorry for your loss."
Senior Constable Manusu told the inquest that while on duty, she'd noticed a vehicle speeding and attempted to get close enough to identify the car's registration number. She maintained that a formal pursuit of the vehicle, as understood by police, was not declared.
The Gomeroi man was found in the Gwydir river. Source: NITV: Sascha Estons
She stated that she did not come within 200 metres or attempt to pull over the vehicle, but that it "took off".
Another police vehicle which had been asked to assist was first on the scene when the car that had been sighted speeding became bogged by the river, at which point the occupants fled.
The inquest heard that Senior Constable Manusu arrived a short time after, and sent the two officers with her to assist the officers already searching by the river for those who had been in the car.
Under questioning
While giving evidence, she was questioned about the initial confusion over whether there had been two or three people in the vehicle, and about the discussions that took place over whether anyone had gone into the water.
In her initial recollections of the timeline of the police response, Senior Constable Manusu said she thought officers had spent 20 or 30 minutes searching for the men.
However records from the night showed she had been on the scene for only eight minutes, and the search had concluded after a total of 13 minutes.
She said she made this decision as she believed those who had fled from officers had since left the area.
Mr Copeland with his partner Josephine and their son (now 3 years old). Their next child is due imminently. Source: Supplied: family
"I did believe they had made their escape, or I wouldn't have left," Senior Constable Manusu said.
She said she had made her decision based on details provided to her from the officers present, two of whom were junior officers.
While she said she had been told by other officers that there had been a "splash" noise at one point, she said she had believed the splashing had been made from a person running along the riverbank to make their escape, as none of the officers had sighted anyone going into the river.
Officers had also told her they had heard groaning at some point but she said she believed if a person had been injured badly, they would have been found by police.
Looking back
Senior Constable Manusu conceded with hindsight, having all of the information provided to her as part of the inquest, she should have spent more time at the river and she herself should have looked down at the riverbank in and around the area noises had been heard.
During the inquest she referred to notes she took that morning suggesting it was possible a third person had been in the car but after finishing her shift and going home, she woke to a text message from a superior to the effect of "everyone accounted for… good job."
Mr Copeland's family contacted police about their concerns for him on the night following the incident at the river.
Under questioning it was revealed that the Copeland family's concerns prompted Senior Constable Manusu to ask a colleague about what had led officers who worked on the case after she finished her shift on the morning of the incident, to conclude there had only been two people in the car and not three people, but he was bound by law not to reveal those details to her.
A father lost too soon
Mr Copeland's partner and the mother of their two boys Josephine Brown said the "bright, bubbly person" was dearly missed.
"The past year has been so hard without him here. We miss him so much," she said.
Ms Brown was heavily pregnant when Mr Copeland went missing.
"It damages me that my babies have got to grow up without their dad. Our littlest one didn't get to meet him and our four-year-old always looks for him.
"I want some accountability. I want justice," she said.
Other police officers who were present at the river on that morning are due to give evidence on Wednesday, with the inquest expected to continue into the following week.
