Four New South Wales police officers will face assault charges over the death of young Brazilian student Roberto Laudisio Curti last year.

The 21-year-old man died within minutes of being tasered up to 14 times, sprayed with capsicum spray and held on the ground by police in March last year.

Mr Curti had stolen a packet of biscuits from a convenience store and was delusional and behaving erratically after using a small amount of LSD.

The actions of police officers had already been criticised by a coronial inquest and an ombudsman's report, but today's announcement by the Police Integrity Commission will lead to charges against the four officers within a week.

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A coronial report into Mr Curti's death found the police who arrested him were thuggish, reckless and dangerous, saying they acted "like schoolboys in Lord of the Flies".

The Police Integrity Commission began investigating the case a year ago and referred a brief of evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for consideration.

The DPP today recommended that Senior Constables Eric Lim and Damien Ralph be charged with common assault, and Senior Constable Scott Edmondson and Constable Daniel Barling with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The NSW Police Association is offering welfare and support to the four officers involved, but says it will not make further comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.

Family wants DPP to go further, says charges aren't enough

Mr Curti's family, who reside in Sao Paulo, Brazil, say they charges are welcomed but still do not go far enough.

After Mr Curti's death, the family demanded "accountability" for his "awful death" and welcomed the news of possible charges against police.

Today, the family has released a statement calling for more to be done.

"We note the PIC's announcement regarding charges being laid against four of the Police officers involved in the death of our beloved Roberto," the statement reads.

"The charges are certainly a step in the right direction. We are grateful that the DPP has undertaken a thorough review, and has decided to take action on the recommendations of both the Coroner and the PIC.

"However, the family also believes that the charges don't go far enough. According to the Coroner's findings, some officers behaved in a reckless and excessive manner, when they tasered, capsicum-sprayed and tackled Roberto.

"Roberto died shortly after the police pursuit.

"We also note the Ombudsman's findings that the police critical incident investigation was lacking."

The family says Mr Curti was a "wonderful, warm-hearted and caring soul who was taken away from us too early and for no reason".

"His death has had a massive impact on the family and we continue to mourn his passing on a daily basis," the statement reads.

"We hope that the court will consider the impact Roberto's death has had on the family."

In February this year the NSW Ombudsman released a report that was critical of the investigation into the death.

It said the police investigation into Mr Curti's death "failed to adequately identify and deal with the question of whether there was any police misconduct".