Qld Coroner Finds Police Killed Aboriginal Man on Palm Island : Melbourne Indymedia

Unlike so many other police deaths in custody many people expected the acting Qld coroners report into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee to be a whitewash. Instead she has released a scathing report into his death that outlines a shocking case of police brutality.

Her findings included:

Mulrunji Doomadgee should never have been arrested in the first place. He was arrested after questioning the arrest of a friend by police. The Deputy Coroner said the arrest was "based purely on the officer's need to exert his authority".

Once at the station Mulrunji who was drunk punched Seargeant Chris Hurley. Hurley then lost his temper punched Mulrunji whilst he was on the floor repeatedly despite their being no further resistance.

These punches were so savage that Mulrunji received four broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and his liver "was almost split in half"

The police then threw Mulrunji into a police cell and despite video footage from the station showing him writing in pain and calling for help he received no attention and died of his injuries soon after

Police when they did discover he was dead made no attempt to revive him

Even when they knew he had died they sent away the Mulrunji family from the police station when they came to check up on him

The Deputy Coroner then found that that the investigation into Mulrunji's death then included police who knew Seargeant Hurley well from Palm Island and Townseville. The Townesville police sent in to investigate had dinner with Seargeant Hurley that night

The death of Mulrunji sparked riots in November 2004 on Palm Island when his autopsy was released and the police station was burnt down in an act of collective direct action in protest. Seven men are still facing serious charges as a result of the protest and property damage. Heavily armed police were sent into to intimidate and subdue Palm Island after the proests erupted. The nations politicians and shock jocks were quick to condemn the Palm Island Community for there retaliation but are certainly not apologising now it has been revealed that Mulrunji was killed by police.

The Coroner has not recommened charges be laid against Seargeant Hurley and now the matter is being looked at by the Qld DPP. The Coroner made a total of 40 recomendations regarding the killing of Mulrunju. Now the community awaits to see whether the police involved will be stood down and the rightful charge of murder be laid against them.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1750469.htm

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/palm-island-man-bashed-to-death-by-policeman/2006/09/27/1159337222690.html