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Australian police review Taser use after man dies

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-18 14:33

BRISBANE, Australia -- Police in Queensland state are reviewing their use of Tasers in connection with the death of a man last week who was stunned up to 28 times during a standoff with police.

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Antonio Galeano, a 39-year-old amphetamines addict, collapsed and died 15 minutes after being stunned by a 50,000 volt Taser stun gun during a violent confrontation with police in Brandon, near Townsville in far north Queensland last Friday.

Police initially said he had been shot three times, however data recorded on the Taser gun has shown it was triggered 28 times. It is unknown if Galeano was hit by all of the electric shock bursts.

Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said Thursday the review will include a study of how many times a Taser should be fired in one incident.

Galeano was hit with the Taser during a violent confrontation in which he was reportedly brandishing a piece of broken glass.

The coroner is investigating the death.