A man who violently assaulted his mother before he was shot dead by police had experienced delusions for years, at times telling friends he needed to “cull” people because he was on a mission from God, the Coroners Court has been told.
Gabriel Messo, 30, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2014, was fatally shot by police in the John Coutts Reserve in Melbourne’s north on July 16 in 2020.
Gabriel Messo and his mother Lilla. Credit:Facebook
Messo had invited his mother Lilla to the reserve. When she arrived, he pushed her to the ground and hit her, repeatedly stabbing her head and neck with a wooden stick.
After 17 minutes, police arrived and one of the constables fired three shots at Messo’s chest, killing him.
His mother was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after she went into cardiac arrest four times.
She survived the attack, but now lives with an acquired brain injury.
The Gladstone Park crime scene.Credit:Eddie Jim
State Coroner Judge John Cain on Tuesday began investigating the circumstances of Messo’s death.
The Victorian Coroners Court was told he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2014 after experiencing his first episode of psychosis.
Over the years, he went through periods where he stopped taking his medication and experienced delusions, telling his friends he needed to “cull” people because he was on a mission from God.
On July 15, the day before his death, Messo was arrested after an incident at his aunt and uncle’s property.
He was taken to hospital under police guard as it appeared he was either drug-affected or in a psychotic episode.
Messo was deemed fit for interview and discharged to the Broadmeadows Police Station later that day before he was released on bail.
Messo attacked his mother at the John Coutts Reserve the next day.
An autopsy found there were no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death.
Counsel assisting the coroner Ben Ihle, QC, said the inquest would look at Messo’s mental health treatment, his arrest on July 15 and the actions of Victoria Police.
Nineteen witnesses, including police officers, nurses and family members, will give evidence in the inquest, which is expected to run for nine days.
AAP
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