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The fatal shooting by police of New Zealander Alan Dyer on Australia's Gold Coast at the weekend has sparked debate about the use of non-lethal force such as Tasers.
Mr Dyer, 49, was killed when shot in the stomach outside his home as he rushed at a police officer with a 30cm knife.
His partner, Chantal, told media she believed Mr Dyer acted as he did because he wanted to be killed.
The once successful businessman reportedly had mental problems and had been fighting a losing battle against depression.
Queensland Police Union president Cameron Pope said the shooting was "justified and unavoidable" and the officer was defending his and colleagues' lives.
The response from the public on local newspaper forums has been largely supportive of the actions of police, but questions have been asked about why pepper spray or Tasers were not used.
One said: "This trigger happy crowd need to join the modern era of policing".
"Have the Queensland police never heard of Tasers or pepper spray?"
Another suggested the officer could have side-stepped as Mr Dyer charged, then turned and shot him with a Taser.
Others pointed out that the electric shock devices were spread thinly among police in Queensland, pepper spray didn't work instantly, and suggestions of manual disarming were unrealistic.
"You have been watching too many Hollywood movies if you think police are supposed to go into hand-to-hand combat and disarm the offender using a Stephen Segal move," one said.
"The officers were rushed and their lives were put at risk by a man with nothing to lose. Police did the right thing ... "
Local MP Vaughan Johnson also backed police, saying said the officer who shot Mr Dyer had done the right thing under the circumstances. Police were "not the custodians of mental health people", he said.
Mr Dyer's mother, Joan Dyer, of Awanui in the Far North, said she and her family were not angry over the death, but disagreed with police being armed.
The incident is being investigated by the state coroner and the Queensland Police Service's Ethical Standards Command.
- NZPA
