What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Sep 27th 2006, 10:29 am
#1
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What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
THE inquest report into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee by Queensland's deputy state coroner Christine Clements today handed down the report of her inquest, finding the local police officer Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley's actions "caused the fatal injuries".
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
I thought QLD police were supposed to be cleaning up their act
Funnily enough there are very few reports available online.
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
I thought QLD police were supposed to be cleaning up their act
Funnily enough there are very few reports available online.
Sep 27th 2006, 10:54 am
#2
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Originally Posted by cresta57
THE inquest report into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee by Queensland's deputy state coroner Christine Clements today handed down the report of her inquest, finding the local police officer Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley's actions "caused the fatal injuries".
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
I thought QLD police were supposed to be cleaning up their act
Funnily enough there are very few reports available online.
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
I thought QLD police were supposed to be cleaning up their act
Funnily enough there are very few reports available online.
At first the victim had tripped at the front steps to the police station, then he fell out of a bunk.....??
Now where did I leave that plain brown paper bag full of paper????
WW
Sep 27th 2006, 10:55 am
#3
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Originally Posted by cresta57
THE inquest report into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee by Queensland's deputy state coroner Christine Clements today handed down the report of her inquest, finding the local police officer Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley's actions "caused the fatal injuries".
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
I thought QLD police were supposed to be cleaning up their act
Funnily enough there are very few reports available online.
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
I thought QLD police were supposed to be cleaning up their act
Funnily enough there are very few reports available online.
Sep 27th 2006, 11:29 am
#4
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Originally Posted by Hutch
My view? Horrific. Surely given the second autopsy it becomes a criminal matter and therefore bugger all to do with the police chief suspending them?
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...95-601,00.html
I know it's a kind of cynical outlook but if after two years and two inquests, the first was abandoned after it was proven to be corrupted [the chief coroner resigned] The officer in question admitted the man fell on his foot after striking him. I wonder how many times he had to throw himself at the officers boot to cause such injuries.
Following the thread's about mistreatment and racism towards the indigenous folk recently this case seems to show it goes all the way to the top.
Sep 27th 2006, 12:09 pm
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Originally Posted by cresta57
The latest report now indicates that a file has been sent to the chief prosecutor
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...95-601,00.html
I know it's a kind of cynical outlook but if after two years and two inquests, the first was abandoned after it was proven to be corrupted [the chief coroner resigned] The officer in question admitted the man fell on his foot after striking him. I wonder how many times he had to throw himself at the officers boot to cause such injuries.
Following the thread's about mistreatment and racism towards the indigenous folk recently this case seems to show it goes all the way to the top.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...95-601,00.html
I know it's a kind of cynical outlook but if after two years and two inquests, the first was abandoned after it was proven to be corrupted [the chief coroner resigned] The officer in question admitted the man fell on his foot after striking him. I wonder how many times he had to throw himself at the officers boot to cause such injuries.
Following the thread's about mistreatment and racism towards the indigenous folk recently this case seems to show it goes all the way to the top.
Edit: The events leading up to this coroners report were a cover up.
Sep 27th 2006, 1:06 pm
#6
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
The Chief Constable (or whatever he calls himself) didn't show himself in a very good light on the news just now. How can the police still deny everything after all the reports 
Sep 27th 2006, 6:18 pm
#7
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Originally Posted by cresta57
THE inquest report into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee by Queensland's deputy state coroner Christine Clements today handed down the report of her inquest, finding the local police officer Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley's actions "caused the fatal injuries".
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
The Aboriginal man who's death in police custody sparked the Palm island riots nearly two yrs ago. Was arrested for swearing at Sgt Hurley, taken to the watch house where he died of internal bleeding an hour later. An autopsy initially revealed he had suffered the fatal injuries in a fall from the bunk. A second autopsy revealed he had suffered 4 broken ribs a ruptured spleen & a ruptured liver. Injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked in the abdomen.
Despite the verdict Qld police chief said there was no reason to suspend any officer involved.
The initial inquiry into the death was conducted by two friends of Sgt Hurley both of whom stayed at his house while conducting the enquiry.
I thought QLD police were supposed to be cleaning up their act
Funnily enough there are very few reports available online.
Sep 27th 2006, 8:43 pm
#8
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
If someone was killed unlawfully you can never condone it, and of course it is terrible.
However, on the issue of Palm Island itself, l am no expert (like most people passing judgment on the police on this thread.) However, from speaking to people in Queensland it would appear the place is a complete mess, with a massive culture of poverty, violence and substance abuse. Why is it this way? Well thats the million dollar question, along with how to fix it. Ask native Ozi's "why" and you will get various different awnsers, ask anybody how to fix it and no one can seem to come up with a good awnser. It is indeed a quandry.
However, the issues within the community have not all been caused by the police, more like historical government policy, and so on, and so on. The police, like everywhere in the world, are just expected to clean up the mess, which often is a very difficult, if not impossible task. I dread to think what it must be like trying to work as a cop somewhere like Palm Island. It is very easy to be an armchair critic, and critisize the police, it is much harder to actually come up with constructive suggestions as how to resolve the issues of such a community. If anyone here feels they can do a better job, resolve all the issues in places like Palm Island i'm sure the Australian government will welcome your suggestions.
However, on the issue of Palm Island itself, l am no expert (like most people passing judgment on the police on this thread.) However, from speaking to people in Queensland it would appear the place is a complete mess, with a massive culture of poverty, violence and substance abuse. Why is it this way? Well thats the million dollar question, along with how to fix it. Ask native Ozi's "why" and you will get various different awnsers, ask anybody how to fix it and no one can seem to come up with a good awnser. It is indeed a quandry.
However, the issues within the community have not all been caused by the police, more like historical government policy, and so on, and so on. The police, like everywhere in the world, are just expected to clean up the mess, which often is a very difficult, if not impossible task. I dread to think what it must be like trying to work as a cop somewhere like Palm Island. It is very easy to be an armchair critic, and critisize the police, it is much harder to actually come up with constructive suggestions as how to resolve the issues of such a community. If anyone here feels they can do a better job, resolve all the issues in places like Palm Island i'm sure the Australian government will welcome your suggestions.
Sep 27th 2006, 11:07 pm
#9
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Originally Posted by Baz
If someone was killed unlawfully you can never condone it, and of course it is terrible.
However, on the issue of Palm Island itself, l am no expert (like most people passing judgment on the police on this thread.) However, from speaking to people in Queensland it would appear the place is a complete mess, with a massive culture of poverty, violence and substance abuse. Why is it this way? Well thats the million dollar question, along with how to fix it. Ask native Ozi's "why" and you will get various different awnsers, ask anybody how to fix it and no one can seem to come up with a good awnser. It is indeed a quandry.
However, the issues within the community have not all been caused by the police, more like historical government policy, and so on, and so on. The police, like everywhere in the world, are just expected to clean up the mess, which often is a very difficult, if not impossible task. I dread to think what it must be like trying to work as a cop somewhere like Palm Island. It is very easy to be an armchair critic, and critisize the police, it is much harder to actually come up with constructive suggestions as how to resolve the issues of such a community. If anyone here feels they can do a better job, resolve all the issues in places like Palm Island i'm sure the Australian government will welcome your suggestions.
However, on the issue of Palm Island itself, l am no expert (like most people passing judgment on the police on this thread.) However, from speaking to people in Queensland it would appear the place is a complete mess, with a massive culture of poverty, violence and substance abuse. Why is it this way? Well thats the million dollar question, along with how to fix it. Ask native Ozi's "why" and you will get various different awnsers, ask anybody how to fix it and no one can seem to come up with a good awnser. It is indeed a quandry.
However, the issues within the community have not all been caused by the police, more like historical government policy, and so on, and so on. The police, like everywhere in the world, are just expected to clean up the mess, which often is a very difficult, if not impossible task. I dread to think what it must be like trying to work as a cop somewhere like Palm Island. It is very easy to be an armchair critic, and critisize the police, it is much harder to actually come up with constructive suggestions as how to resolve the issues of such a community. If anyone here feels they can do a better job, resolve all the issues in places like Palm Island i'm sure the Australian government will welcome your suggestions.
Sep 28th 2006, 5:08 am
#10
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
the australian gov't have had plenty of suggestions on how to resolve the situation... they're not prepared to take steps to implement those suggestions.
there's been a number of reports, commissions, hearings etc on situations like the palm island one, but they're never given more than lip service once all is said and done.
there's been a number of reports, commissions, hearings etc on situations like the palm island one, but they're never given more than lip service once all is said and done.
Sep 28th 2006, 5:46 am
#11
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Originally Posted by Baz
If someone was killed unlawfully you can never condone it, and of course it is terrible.
However, on the issue of Palm Island itself, l am no expert (like most people passing judgment on the police on this thread.) However, from speaking to people in Queensland it would appear the place is a complete mess, with a massive culture of poverty, violence and substance abuse. Why is it this way? Well thats the million dollar question, along with how to fix it. Ask native Ozi's "why" and you will get various different awnsers, ask anybody how to fix it and no one can seem to come up with a good awnser. It is indeed a quandry.
However, the issues within the community have not all been caused by the police, more like historical government policy, and so on, and so on. The police, like everywhere in the world, are just expected to clean up the mess, which often is a very difficult, if not impossible task. I dread to think what it must be like trying to work as a cop somewhere like Palm Island. It is very easy to be an armchair critic, and critisize the police, it is much harder to actually come up with constructive suggestions as how to resolve the issues of such a community. If anyone here feels they can do a better job, resolve all the issues in places like Palm Island i'm sure the Australian government will welcome your suggestions.
However, on the issue of Palm Island itself, l am no expert (like most people passing judgment on the police on this thread.) However, from speaking to people in Queensland it would appear the place is a complete mess, with a massive culture of poverty, violence and substance abuse. Why is it this way? Well thats the million dollar question, along with how to fix it. Ask native Ozi's "why" and you will get various different awnsers, ask anybody how to fix it and no one can seem to come up with a good awnser. It is indeed a quandry.
However, the issues within the community have not all been caused by the police, more like historical government policy, and so on, and so on. The police, like everywhere in the world, are just expected to clean up the mess, which often is a very difficult, if not impossible task. I dread to think what it must be like trying to work as a cop somewhere like Palm Island. It is very easy to be an armchair critic, and critisize the police, it is much harder to actually come up with constructive suggestions as how to resolve the issues of such a community. If anyone here feels they can do a better job, resolve all the issues in places like Palm Island i'm sure the Australian government will welcome your suggestions.
Sep 28th 2006, 5:53 am
#12
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
This has been discussed at work, one of the docs claims 75 people died in custody over a 10 year span, 19 were aboriginal but only 1% of aussies (adults I think) population is aboriginal.
Something sounds wrong then.
Something sounds wrong then.
Sep 28th 2006, 6:03 am
#13
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
there is a larger percentage of aboriginal people in prison, so it would be expected that the numbers of their DIC are higher, purely because there is more of them there... in the same way more monkeys die in zoos, than elephants - more monkeys in a zoo etc etc
but that doens't explain WHY there are more aboriginal people there in the first place since they do make up such a small number of the general population. and it certainly doesn't explain how aboriginals are dying in a police cell after being arrested!!!
(also - a bit off topic - it brings new persepcitve when people say 10 percent of non aboriginal population are alcoholics, but almost 80 percent of aboriginals are alcoholics... that's what 2 million non abs. compared to about 400,000 abs... big difference eh!!!)
but that doens't explain WHY there are more aboriginal people there in the first place since they do make up such a small number of the general population. and it certainly doesn't explain how aboriginals are dying in a police cell after being arrested!!!
(also - a bit off topic - it brings new persepcitve when people say 10 percent of non aboriginal population are alcoholics, but almost 80 percent of aboriginals are alcoholics... that's what 2 million non abs. compared to about 400,000 abs... big difference eh!!!)
Sep 28th 2006, 6:08 am
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
I've just read all 35 pages of the inquest verdict. Certainly seems to point to the fact that the senior Sgt didn't kick him to death as suggested previously it appears that several punches were delivered by the Sgt after they both fell to the ground during a struggle.
What I find particularly abhorrent is the fact that the victims screams for help were heard outside the station by members of the public yet inside the officers present ignored the live audio & video feed coming from within the cell that clearly showed the man wasn't asleep and snoring as they testified but writhing around in agony with his liver so badly damaged it was almost severed in two.
What I find particularly abhorrent is the fact that the victims screams for help were heard outside the station by members of the public yet inside the officers present ignored the live audio & video feed coming from within the cell that clearly showed the man wasn't asleep and snoring as they testified but writhing around in agony with his liver so badly damaged it was almost severed in two.
Sep 28th 2006, 10:25 am
#15
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Re: What's Your View on the Palm Island Coroners Report?
Some interesting points have been made.
I also have heard that many more aboriginal people die in custody that say for example white people. I have also heard that this is largely as a result of suicides as opposed to anything else, though i do not have figures to hand. If someone is very determined to take their own life, it is very hard to prevent them. They don't tell you of their intention, and no police force anywhere in the world has the resources to watch each prisoner constantly twenty four hours a day. To infer that the police are responsible for deliberately causing all these individuals deaths is just madness.
I can't comment on the death in custody on Palm Island itself, as i don't know all the details.
As for more aboriginal's being in prison than for example whites, it would be very easy in these times where it is highly fashionable to slag off the police, to put it down to racism. I'm not saying that racism does not exist in the police, but like anywhere in the world the police tends to reflect the society it serves, and so you will always have a few bad eggs. Its just that the few bad eggs get lots of publicity when they get caught out. It makes much better reading in the papers hearing about a bent copper, than a copper who helped an old lady accross the road. Given the fact there is such high unemployment in the aboriginal community, issues with lack of education (the two are most likely connected,) substance abuse, and poverty, it is inevitable that there are going to be lots more aboriginals in custody than other races. This is not the police's fault, these people have clearly been let down by the government, and society.
I am not reffering specifically to the the "alledgedly" unlawful death in custody on Palm Island here, but the general attitude towards the police. I am not saying that the police get it right all the time, but bear in mind the amount of cops in Queensland, and the amount of calls attended and dealt with every day or every year, its inevitable that there are going to be some serious screw ups. This does not justify them, but sometimes a little understanding would go a long way.
I also have heard that many more aboriginal people die in custody that say for example white people. I have also heard that this is largely as a result of suicides as opposed to anything else, though i do not have figures to hand. If someone is very determined to take their own life, it is very hard to prevent them. They don't tell you of their intention, and no police force anywhere in the world has the resources to watch each prisoner constantly twenty four hours a day. To infer that the police are responsible for deliberately causing all these individuals deaths is just madness.
I can't comment on the death in custody on Palm Island itself, as i don't know all the details.
As for more aboriginal's being in prison than for example whites, it would be very easy in these times where it is highly fashionable to slag off the police, to put it down to racism. I'm not saying that racism does not exist in the police, but like anywhere in the world the police tends to reflect the society it serves, and so you will always have a few bad eggs. Its just that the few bad eggs get lots of publicity when they get caught out. It makes much better reading in the papers hearing about a bent copper, than a copper who helped an old lady accross the road. Given the fact there is such high unemployment in the aboriginal community, issues with lack of education (the two are most likely connected,) substance abuse, and poverty, it is inevitable that there are going to be lots more aboriginals in custody than other races. This is not the police's fault, these people have clearly been let down by the government, and society.
I am not reffering specifically to the the "alledgedly" unlawful death in custody on Palm Island here, but the general attitude towards the police. I am not saying that the police get it right all the time, but bear in mind the amount of cops in Queensland, and the amount of calls attended and dealt with every day or every year, its inevitable that there are going to be some serious screw ups. This does not justify them, but sometimes a little understanding would go a long way.