Two police officers have faced court accused of unlawfully killing a man who died in hospital following his arrest inside a car park.

Constable Alexander Papanastassis, 29, and Sergeant James Fitzgerald, 49, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday morning for a brief hearing.

They sat together in the front row of the court room, dressed in suits, as their lawyers and the prosecution set dates for the next hearing.

Police on Thursday said the two officers, who have been suspended from duties since the incident, were charged with negligent manslaughter over Luke Briggs' arrest in July 2024.

However, documents released after their court appearance stated Papanastassis and Fitzgerald are each charged with "unlawfully kill Luke Briggs".

CCTV and body-worn camera footage has alrea

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