Hours later he was dead from massive internal injuries including broken ribs and a ruptured spleen, and his liver was so badly damaged it was almost cleaved in two across his spine. November 19: Cameron Doomadgee, 36, dies in custody at Palm Island police station after being . In his submissions to the Committee, Hurley pointed out the lack of an alcohol diversionary centre on Palm Island. Mulrunji was affected by alcohol and struggled with Hurley, leading to a fall near the door to the police station. Main points from media reports after interviews with residents and relatives stated: Hurley is a white Australian who was also aged 36 at the time of the incident. Snr Sgt Hurley breaks silence, testifying in his own defence. Hurley case begins in Townsville Supreme Court. [1] The death of Mulrunji led to civic disturbances on the island and a legal, political and media sensation that continued for fourteen years. Lawyers for both the Doomadgee family and Hurley asked that the Coroner disqualify himself (although for different reasons). ", "[I] come out every night, just sitting down [beside the memorial]. Police Commissioner Ian Stewart admitted mistakes were made with the way the QPS handled the death in custody. U.S. Reports: Peterson v. Greenville, 373 U.S. 244 (1962). It has even been earmarked by the State Government for development into a tourism mecca. The family and the state coroner were informed of the death at about 3pm that afternoon. A post-mortem examination showed that he had a cut above his right eye, four broken ribs, his portal vein had been ruptured and his Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare announces that no charges will be laid against Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over Mulrunji's death. The history wars famously involved the 'black armband view of history'; a pejorative phrase used by conservatives to attack historians who they thought focussed too much on the negative impact of colonisation on Australia's indigenous At the age of 63 they set off for one more trip to Mount Sinai. When they learnt of his death, Palm Islanders rioted, and burnt the police station down. [6], In 2020 a memorial plaque to Mulrinji was erected by Palm Island Aboriginal Council outside the police station on Palm Island, reading:[84].mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, In memory of Mulrinji / whose life was tragically taken on 19th November 2004. [23], Premier Peter Beattie visited Palm Island on Sunday 28 November, producing a five-point plan to restore order to local leaders. [31], Barnes had previously been the Aboriginal Legal Aid solicitor for two families before the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Queensland Police Union President Denis Fitzpatrick demanded the rioters be charged with attempted murder of 12 police. [16] Part of the flown in police contingent was the tactical response group who wore riot shields, balaclavas and helmets with face-masks, Glock pistol at the hip and a shotgun or semi-automatic rifle in their right hand. The subsequent trial of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley - who had been decorated . He was locked up for being drunk and a public nuisance, and at the time of his arrest had no visible injuries. The officer could not find a pulse. She also accused the police of failing to investigate his death fully. The Magistrate determined that due to the "state of emergency" it would be too dangerous to allow the defendants to return to Palm Island, therefore bail was not considered. Meanwhile Mulrunji taunted Bengaroo with words to the effect of "why does he help lock up his own people?". Supreme Court of the United States - Warren, Earl, Clark, Tom Campbell - Supreme Court of the United States, Stewart, Potter - Supreme Court of the United States, Wotton v State of Queensland (No 5) [2016] FCA 1457: Summary, Palm Island Riots: Federal Court Finds Police Acted with Impunity in Racial Discrimination Lawsuit, New Zealand: Bill Pardoning Mori Prophet Convicted in 1916 Passed, Canada: Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of Pakistani Canadian Pilot in Discrimination Case, Australia: Queensland Enacts Historic Human Rights Legislation, Australia: Foreign Fighters Bill Introduced in Parliament, Australia's 1967 Constitutional Referendum Related to Indigenous People: The Women Who Campaigned for "Yes". He was then dragged limp and unresponsive into a cell and died within the next hour. (Id. The sister of an Aboriginal man whose death in custody sparked the 2004 Palm Island riot says the relocation of a memorial rock from the island's police station has encouraged healing. "Just hope nobody goes through that, what we went through, especially on this island.". (Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014, Parliament We observe International Women's Day by highlighting several Australian women who had key roles in bringing about a 1967 constitutional referendum related to indigenous people. Gladys requested that Hurley accompany her so that she could safely get medication from Bramwell's house. Two legal questions arose from the death; firstly, whether the taking into custody of Mulrunji was lawful, and secondly, whether the injuries that led to his death were illegally caused by the arresting officer. / We also acknowledge all those who lost their lives in custody across Australia. They delayed Mulrunji's funeral and insisted that the Coroner order a second "independent autopsy" to be observed by a pathologist on behalf of the Doomadgee family. [43], In June 2007 the Townsville-based trial of Chris Hurley on charges of assault and manslaughter took place. no semblance of understanding" about the context of the Palm Island community's distress and anger as to what had happened to Mulrunji and the progress of the investigation . A damning 2016 Federal Court ruling found the Queensland Police breached the Racial Discrimination Act with its investigation into his death and subsequent unrest on the island. [12], Doomadgee family spokesman, Brad Foster, claimed that after the men had been put into the cells, fifteen minutes lapsed before a seven-second check was done on the inmates. The applicants also claimed that the QPS had contravened the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (Federal Register of Legislation website)in its handling of the investigation of the death in custody. Justice Kerry Cullinane sets down a two-week trial to start on 12 June in the Townsville Supreme Court for Snr Sgt Hurley. Snr Sgt Hurley faces Supreme Court charged with manslaughter and assault. Cameron Doomadgee, 36, died in a police cell on November 19, 2004. [8] The videotape footage from the cell shows Hurley checking for breathing and pulse then "sliding down the wall of the cell until he sat with his face in his hands". According to statements an ambulance was then called taking fifteen minutes to arrive. I am comfortably satisfied QPS officers would not have taken a similar approach, in any of the respects I have outlined above, if a tragedy such as this had occurred in an isolated non-Aboriginal community in Queensland. [10], An autopsy report by Coroner Michael Barnes was produced for the family one week after the death. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. [83] Police actions were later found to breach the Racial Discrimination Act, with the raids being "unnecessary, disproportionate" and police having "acted in these ways because they were dealing with an Aboriginal community. Cameron Doomadgee was picked up and arrested on November 19, 2004 for allegedly causing a public nuisance. Terrence Alfred Kidner sentenced to 16 months in jail in Townsville District Court after pleading guilty to rioting on Palm Island. Buchanan, K. (2016) Australia: Police Response to Aboriginal Death in Custody and Ensuing Riot Ruled Discriminatory. Shanahan resigned after it was revealed he had sat on the panel that originally appointed Clare as DPP in 1999. Cameron Doomadgee's funeral on Palm Island in 2004. Says he has come to terms with the fact he caused the death, but strongly denies any intention to cause harm. [19] Subsequent to the autopsy report reading a succession of angry young Aboriginal men spoke to the crowd and encouraged immediate action be taken against the police. [15] They converted the Bwgcolman Community School into a headquarters and sleeping barracks, and the St Michael's school bus was commandeered. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate. According to Yanner and Foster, Minister Clark's Senior Policy Advisor had asked them to fabricate a story for the public that they had agreed to reimburse the cost of the flights, while assuring them they would not have to pay. The memorial is now surrounded by tinsel, fairy lights, flowers and a turtle ornament, which represents Mr Doomadgee's hunting skills. Ms Aplin said she was grateful the council helped moved the rock just in time for this year's anniversary of Mr Doomadgee's death. [29], Mulrunji's Family had suspicions about the results of the first autopsy by the Queensland government pathologist.
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