The three brought the case on behalf of a group of people affected, they allege, by unlawful race discrimination of QPS officers during the period from November 19 to 28, 2004. Deputy Coroner Christine Clements finds Snr Sgt Hurley responsible for Mulrunji's fatal injuries. Review: The Tall Man - Trespass Magazine They would have pulled everything off. [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. The government report described Doomadgee as the 'worst example of the ills of the dormitory system', and referred to Doomadgee girls as being 'most severely restrained': Queensland State Archives, file 1D/133, memo dated 19.6.1950 from the Deputy Director of Native Affairs regarding Doomadgee Mission; see also Queensland, Annual Report of the It stated that Mulrunji had suffered four broken ribs, which had ruptured his liver and spleen, it also found that the body's blood alcohol content was 0.29 from a cocktail of alcohol including methylated spirits mixed with sweet cordial. He was taken into custody by Senior Sargeant Chris Hurley, accompanied by the Indigenous Liaison Police officer Lloyd Bengaroo. The police claimed he had tripped on a step. [28], Lex Wotton was warned by a Brisbane court in 2006 to comply with the original conditions of bail, to discontinue his public appearances at rallies and marches. ), The Court was asked to decide whether, in the police investigation into Mulrunjis death, in the management of community concerns, tensions and anger on Palm Island in the week after his death, and in the police responses to protests and fires that occurred on 26 November 2004, officers of the QPS contravened section 9(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). (Id.) [41], The review resulted in the overturning of the DPP's decision, with Street finding there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Hurley with manslaughter. genome.ch.bbc.co.uk It was decided by Coroner Michael Barnes that the inquiry would take place on the island so that the people of Palm Island would have the opportunity to observe the process; however medical evidence and evidence given by police officers was to be taken in open court in Townsville due to logistical issues and safety concerns of the police. Hurley was 201cm tall and weighed 115 kilograms. Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner and relative of the Doomadgee family was at the centre of controversy over his calls for Aboriginal people to bash all "racist cops" and for all police stations to be burnt. (. The death of Mulrunji Doomadgee and the illusion of postcolonial Australia SARAH KEENAN REFERENCES 1. This year, hundreds of Palm Islanders affected by the events received compensation as part of a $30 million State Government class action settlement. [27] His comment was criticized as hypocritical and systematic of "one rule for us and one for whites and that's a racist legal system where the cops get their way" by Burketown He said that due to the unreliability of police and Aboriginal witnesses he could not make a definitive finding. The family and the state coroner were informed of the death at about 3pm that afternoon. 26 November 2004 Doomadgee's autopsy results indicate that he died from internal injuries, with the island's pathologist claiming they are the result of "a fall". Meanwhile Mulrunji taunted Bengaroo with words to the effect of "why does he help lock up his own people?". Within an hour Mr Doomadgee was found dead in a cell at Palm Island police station. Mulrunji who had walked away, turned and allegedly swore at the police officers. He was arrested by Senior Sargent Chris Hurley, accompanied by the Indigenous liaison police officer Lloyd Bengaroo, and was taken into custody. Justice Kerry Cullinane sets down a two-week trial to start on 12 June in the Townsville Supreme Court for Snr Sgt Hurley. Mulrunji - We Are Not The Problem According to statements an ambulance was then called taking fifteen minutes to arrive. 16 barristers and solicitors appeared representing the Queensland Government, the Doomadgee family, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Queensland Police Service. 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. Show It was lifted two days later, just before the Premier's arrival. What happened in the 45 minutes from Doomadgee's arrest till his death should weigh heavily on Australian audiences. Mulrunji was placed in the two-cell lockup which was the back section of the Palm Island Police Station. Hurley then reentered the car and talked with Bengaroo briefly. Eighteen local police had to repeatedly retreat; firstly receding from the station to the residential barracks, then when the barracks were also set alight they (and their families) withdrew to the hospital and barricaded themselves in. Queensland police halt plans to march on state parliament over Snr Sgt Hurley being charged after Premier Peter Beattie accedes to demands for closed circuit cameras in watchhouses in Aboriginal communities. ", "[I] come out every night, just sitting down [beside the memorial]. His grandmother complained to Hurley, who then arrested him. Black Lives Matter protests have dominated international headlines this year. He complained "If we attend a job in relation to alcohol where the person has not committed any other offences besides being drunk in public, the only option we have is to take them to the watch-house". Here's what they think of a Voice to Parliament, Nationals join forces with farmers to oppose multi-billion-dollar Victoria-NSW renewable energy project, Prime minister says urgent care clinics will start relieving pressure on NT's busy emergency wards in coming months. [18] They quoted the Coroner's observations about the cause of death and that the "consensus of medical opinion was that severe compressive force applied to the upper abdomen, or possibly the lower chest, or both together, was required to have caused this injury", and that "medical witnesses were asked to consider whether the application of a knee or an elbow, whilst [the deceased] was on the hard flat surface, either during or separate to the fall could have caused the mechanism of injury. 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. Tall Man: The Death of Doomadgee by Chloe Hooper | Goodreads . [50], The Court noted that because Bramwell did not have a clear view of the incident, the Coroner concluded that the punches described by Bramwell hit the abdomen or torso of the deceased rather than the head, and this caused the death. [50] They further noted that the medical evidence before the Coroner allowed for the possibility that punches were one possible explanation for the facial injuries or bruises, but the medical evidence unequivocally rejected punching described by Bramwell as a cause of death. / We also acknowledge all those who lost their lives in custody across Australia. The Coroner later stated that the autopsy was "far too sensitive and private" to be publicly released. "What I hope is that those learnings have made us better, and certainly I would hope we can prove to the community that we have taken those learnings very seriously.". Private investigator hired to carry out an independent investigation into Mulrunji's death. The lawyers maintained two key points, firstly that the emergency could only last for as long as the riot itself and secondly the police did not have extended search and detain powers under the Act that they had relied upon. The Library of Congress has no objection to the international use and reuse of Library U.S. Government works onloc.gov. Web Page. They advised that "The Commission has determined that the evidence would not be capable of proving before any disciplinary tribunal that Senior Sergeant Hurley was responsible for Mulrunji's death". . Mulrunji's death was repeatedly branded "cold-blooded murder". The police station was burned down during the riot, along with the courthouse and Hurleys home. 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. Australia: Police Response to Aboriginal Death in Custody and Ensuing Riot Ruled Discriminatory. [53] Prosecutor Peter Davis suggested that this (the fact of giving a shorter estimate in court not the out of court attempt to get a more accurate estimate) was an attempt to sabotage prosecutors. The Attorney-General of Queensland, Kerry Shine, indicted an Australian police officer for a criminal trial for the first time since the public prosecutor 's office was established. Cameron Doomadgee, 36, died in the Palm Island watch-house in 2004 after being arrested by Queensland police Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley. [66] More specifically the ad stated: "Zimbabwe is a good example of what could happen where politicians override the laws to suit themselves. Cameron Doomadgee's sisters says their brother's death was the first of several family tragedies and they are yet to come to terms with what they see as a terrible injustice. Chris Hurley receives a confidential payout of A$102,955 from the Queensland Government. (Bramwell was an exclusive witness for only 6 to 10 seconds, and volunteered incriminating evidence at the Coronial hearing that Hurley punched Mulrunji. [11][16] Complaints were made that Aboriginal Legal Aid had been denied access to the Island. This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 19:37. "[91], Some months after the riot the 24-member Labor Party (ALP) branch on Palm Island publicly revolted against Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, writing a letter to him through local State Member Mike Reynolds outlining grievances against the State Government Labor Party administration. [64], After the Attorney General's decision to prosecute was made public members of the Union held rallies in every major city in Queensland protesting against the political intervention, and in support of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley. Almost 10 years ago Cameron Doomadgee died in police custody on Palm Island. Queensland Police Union President Denis Fitzpatrick demanded the rioters be charged with attempted murder of 12 police. It's peaceful.". However, he found that Hurley punched Mulrunji in the face and abused him while attempting to get him into the station, and found that police colluded to protect Hurley. 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. [63] Wilkinson later publicly apologised and pleaded guilty to the contempt. Another notable condition of bail was that they were not to attend rallies or marches over the death in custody. PDF The death of Mulrunji Doomadgee and the illusion of postcolonial Australia This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Police began taking statements from witnesses. [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". [71], Within a month of Doomadgee's death, Hurley was transferred to the Gold Coast[2] where he medically retired in 2017, following a string of charges including assault and dangerous driving. Hurley v. November 19: Cameron Doomadgee, 36, dies in custody at Palm Island police station after being . Senior Sergeant Christopher Hurley was the officer who arrested Mr Doomadgee. The main suspect was Senior Sergeant Christopher Hurley, a charismatic cop with long . Queensland's then premier Peter Beattie declared a state of emergency and dozens of riot squad members were flown in to control the crowd. a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate. After the trial concluded the Union released advertisements against the Beattie Queensland government, comparing the government to Robert Mugabe and his government. Procedures for taking of statements from illiterate Aboriginal people were not followed, including the requirement to have a representative present who understands the process (preferably a legal representation). 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".

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