March 10, 2010:

Rollout Tasers Says Tyler's Mum

March 4, 2010:

At the Directions Hearing on 4 March 2010, State Coroner, Judge Coate, granted permission for Victorian Legal Aid (VLA) and the Human Rights Law Resource Centre (HRLRC) to appear at the inquest into Tyler's death. She said VLA and HRLRC would provide evidence that was important to the inquest. VLA will call Australian of the Year Professor McGorry.The inquest is likely to be held in the second half of this year.

February 11, 2010:

Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry may be called to give evidence at an inquest into the death of a teenager who was shot by police in Melbourne. Tyler Cassidy, 15, died in a skate park in the northeast suburb of Northcote in December 2008. A directions hearing in the Victorian Coroner's Court on Thursday, 11 February 2010, was told Professor McGorry may give evidence on behalf of Victorian Legal Aid (VLA). VLA lawyer, Mark Regan, said the organisation wanted to lead evidence about dealing with youth in crisis, an area which Professor McGorry had expertise in. Professor McGorry runs the Orygen Youth Health service and is the director of Headspace, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation. State Coroner, Judge Jennifer Coate, is considering an application by VLA to be represented at the inquest. The court heard four police officers would seek to be represented by their own lawyers rather than the lawyer representing Victoria Police. More than 100 witnesses will be called to give evidence at the inquest, the court heard. Judge Coate said the inquest would likely be held in the second half of this year. "I am very mindful of the impact of any delay, certainly on (Tyler's mother) Ms (Shani) Cassidy and the family," she said. "I appreciate it is a very difficult period during the build-up to the inquest and certainly the running of the inquest." Judge Coate will rule on applications by VLA and two other legal organisations to be represented at the hearing on March 4. Prof McGorry, who was named Australian of the Year in January, is an advocate for early intervention for young mentally ill people and has called for radical change to the mental health system in general.