what happened to cameron doomadgee

"We wanted to make certain there was law and order to protect the community.". 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 autopsy report was medical and did not state what caused his death. The case arose from the 2004 death in custody of Mulrunji, previously known as Cameron Doomadgee, whose treatment sparked riots on the island. Terrence Alfred Kidner sentenced to 16 months in jail in Townsville District Court after pleading guilty to rioting on Palm Island. Mulrunji was placed in the two-cell lockup which was the back section of the Palm Island Police Station. Australia: Police Response to Aboriginal Death in Custody and Ensuing Riot Ruled Discriminatory. Palm Island is a picturesque haven of sweeping coastlines and vibrant rainforests. It explores what happened when Cameron Doomadgee, a 36-yr old Indigenous man was found dead in a Palm Island police station, with injuries that didn't reasonably fit with tripping into the station's step, as the Police had claimed. Included in the duties of the CMC is investigating allegations of police misconduct. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and image of someone who has died. 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. Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey said it had been difficult to rebuild trust between police and residents in the years since then. "We wouldn't have [decorated] it down there," Ms Aplin said. The police claimed he'd tripped on a step, but his liver was ruptured. [33], The Coroner subsequently disqualified himself, and Deputy State Coroner Christine Clements flew to Townsville and took over. Documentary film director Tony Krawitz opined in an interview that "something really violent happened" and shortly after stated "It wasn't treated as a murder investigation which is what was meant to have happened. The directions hearing was held in a marquee, because there were no premises on the island large enough for the expected audience. [27], Four people were prosecuted for the riot and were acquitted. [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. He found that the injuries could have been caused by Hurley accidentally falling on top of Mulrunji, or by the officer "dropping a knee into his torso". [93], In a general atmosphere where there was high levels of local animosity towards the police in the months following the riot, the Queensland Government coincidentally had completed construction of a new multi-million dollar community centre which would be primarily under the control of the Police Youth Club Association. In 2011 a documentary was made. 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. While Gladys retrieved her medication, Patrick Bramwell was outside. It has even been earmarked by the State Government for development into a tourism mecca. Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare announces that no charges will be laid against Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over Mulrunji's death. Show [61], When Coroner Barnes disqualified himself from the inquiry the QPU called for him to be sacked immediately from the position of state coroner for the indiscretion of drinking with one of the lawyers during the inquest. 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 What happened in the 45 minutes from Doomadgee's arrest till his death should weigh heavily on Australian audiences. 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. (Quebec (Commission (Mar. Hurley drove over to Mulrunji and arrested him for creating a public nuisance,[14] after which Mulrunji was taken in the back of the police vehicle for the short trip to the police station. Instead they ordered that the Coronial Inquiry be reopened to re-examine the facts as the original Coronial Inquiry findings were set aside. 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. The judge in the case, Justice Debbie Mortimer, upheld a number of the applicants claims regarding contraventions of section 9(1), but not all of them. Senior Sgt Hurley stood down following the coroner's findings. Police Commissioner Ian Stewart admitted mistakes were made with the way the QPS handled the death in custody. Deputy Coroner Christine Clements finds Snr Sgt Hurley responsible for Mulrunji's fatal injuries. State budget announces boost to police numbers in indigenous communities, more CCTV cameras for watchhouses. [36], Leanne Clare, the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), announced on 14 December 2006 that no charges would be laid as there was no evidence proving that Hurley was responsible for Mulrunji's death. ), 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.) ), Mulrunjis autopsy showed that he died of major internal injuries. Largely supporting this conclusion was that Hurley had considered it necessary to raise similar concerns only a year prior to Mulrunji's death to the Federal Parliamentary Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. [62] As a result he was charged with contempt of court by the Attorney General. Complaints were made that Aboriginal Legal Aid had been denied access to the Island. In November 2004 a Palm Island man Cameron Doomadgee (Aboriginal name: Mulrunji) died in custody in a cell at the Palm Island police station after being picked up for allegedly causing a public nuisance. I am the same", and that they would both respond with fists when confronted or challenged, portraying a cop who some years ago had confronted and overcome his own inherent racism while working in the Torres Strait. [23] The Palm Islanders faced charges of riot, arson and assault. The 2004 Palm Island death in custody incident relates to the death of an Aboriginal resident of Palm Island, Cameron Doomadgee (also known as "Mulrunji") on Friday, 19 November 2004 in a police cell. [3][4][2], In 2010, Hurley was forced to repay $34,980 in insurance payments after allegations of insurance fraud following the 2004 riot.[75]. Residents report officers pointing guns at children's heads and being tasered. [85], The Minister and her office told The Australian newspaper the Government paid for the tickets in order to expedite the purchasing of the tickets at such short notice; both Yanner and Foster had agreed to reimburse the Government later for the cost of the tickets. dangerous driving in which shots were allegedly fired at a getaway car in May 2015. assaulting a female colleague in February 2016. [57], After the alleged rioters were granted bail Queensland Police Union President Denis Fitzpatrick criticized the magistrate's decision to grant bail saying that the safety of the community had been put last and that the decision amounted to a "betrayal" of the police. [88] The CMC demanded that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) hand over the tapes and backup tapes of particular interviews with Yanner and Foster which were central to the investigation, the interviews then had to be deleted from ABC audio and computers. Jury acquits Hurley on manslaughter and assault charges. [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. He was then dragged limp and unresponsive into a cell and died within the next hour. [37] She reportedly received advice from former Supreme Court judge James B. Thomas before making this decision. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/palm-island-doomadgee-memorial-moved-from-police-station/12946248, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Jock Zonfrillo remembered as an 'incredible chef' and icon of Australia's culinary landscape, Jock Zonfrillo, celebrated chef and judge on MasterChef Australia, dies aged 46, Russian freight train derails after being hit by explosive device, governor says, Donald Trump requests mistrial in rape accuser Carroll's civil case, Tony Abbott mounts attack on Voice after a spat with parliamentary committee, 'The worm goes global': Rita Ora wowed by Adelaide lobbyist's dancefloor moves, Female teacher admits sexual offences against teen student, fights 10 other charges, Major route into the Kokoda track appears to have been blockaded amid tour operator feud, New Zealand PM in favour of country becoming a republic, $30 million State Government class action settlement, Palm Islanders to launch action against Channel Nine, Daily Mail over 'racist' reports, Indigenous activist awarded $220k over Palm Island riots 'racial discrimination', 'It's about healing': Palm Islanders to share $30m class action payment, Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander), US authorities 'auction' First Republic Bank after second biggest bank failure in history, Nurse driving home from shift among victims of triple-fatal crash involving allegedly stolen car, Lauren Cranston jailed for eight years over one of Australia's biggest tax frauds, 'They will forever know their dad was a hero': 1,000 mourners farewell slain NSW paramedic, Family of man shot dead by police question why they weren't called in to help, There are 11 First Nations MPs and senators. The subsequent trial of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley - who had been decorated . ), Wotton was later convicted of inciting a riot and served 19 months in prison before being released on parole. Buchanan, K. (2016) Australia: Police Response to Aboriginal Death in Custody and Ensuing Riot Ruled Discriminatory. [34], After Coroner Clements made her findings but before they were overturned by the District and Supreme Courts as being inconsistent with the evidence QPU President Gary Wilkinson was highly critical. On 19 November 2004 he was found dead in a cell in the police station on Palm Island. [15] They converted the Bwgcolman Community School into a headquarters and sleeping barracks, and the St Michael's school bus was commandeered. [50], The Attorney General and appellants submitted that if punching is set aside there should be an inevitable finding that the fatal injuries were due to a deliberate application of force by Chris Hurley after the fall, e.g. The coroners preliminary report found that Mulrunji died after falling over a step. The strong police presence was not welcome on the island. Mr Doomadgee died from massive internal injuries in a police cell on the island in November 2004. Riot, police raids, and racial discrimination, Palm Island death surrounding controversy, Last edited on 18 February 2023, at 19:37, Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award, The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island, Walkley Foundation Long-form Journalism: Documentary award, The Dualism of Agency and the Australian Settler-State in the Twenty First Century: The Palm Island Riot of 2004 and the Aftermath, "Suspended Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley faces criminal charges", "Controversial ex-cop Chris Hurley appeals conviction over wild Gold Coast police chase", "Former cop Chris Hurley's penalty for assaulting a motorist reduced", "Queensland police breached discrimination act on Palm Island, court finds", "Palm Island riots class action payout 'slap in face' to police, union says", "Police run for their lives as rioters torch buildings in a tropical island rampage", Office of the State Coroner "Finding of Inquest", "Australia Day recalls matters of life, death and justice", "Australian coroner: Police killed Aboriginal prisoner on Palm Island", "Aboriginal death in custody triggers Palm Island riot", "Palm Island man compensated for wrongful arrest after 2004 riots", "Not Guilty all 4 defendants in Palm Island 'riot' trial", "Accused Palm Is rioter withdraws guilty plea", Interest in black deaths in custody renews, "Palm Island judge quits over conflict of interest", "Aboriginal leaders applaud Mulrunji review appointment", "Policeman to be charged over Palm Island death", Anfry (sic) Palm Islanders want Mulrunji Royal Commission, "Police colluded to protect Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee Coroner", "New dad Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley faces custody death probe", "Overcrowding central to Palm Island's problems: report", "Palm death cop Chris Hurley got $100,000 payout", "Officer's blow killed Mulrunji says coroner", "Police union boss to face court on contempt charge", "Police union boss admits contempt over coroner remarks", "Our man wins Journalist of the Year award", "Brisbane artist draws parallels between treatment of asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians", "Queensland police officer Cop Chris Hurley fined for assaulting co-worker", "Timeline: The death of Mulrunji Doomadgee", "7.30 Report Interest in black deaths in custody renews", "Many Ways Forward: Report of the inquiry into capacity building and service delivery in Indigenous communities Appendix C", "Commissioner's statement re Senior Sergeant Hurley death", "Family of Palm Island man who died in police custody relieved memorial has new home", "NIT FORUMS: History repeats, over and over", Palm Island Death in Custody: Cameron Doomadgee, Report of the Attorney General to the Legislative Assembly, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2004_Palm_Island_death_in_custody&oldid=1140163872. [32] Although he had not been involved in the investigation, Barnes was the officer who made the final determination that the complaints were unsubstantiated. [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". That morning, he had been arrested near the police station after yelling out what the arresting officer,Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, considered to be abuse directed at Hurley and an Aboriginal police liaison officer who was also on duty. 2016. [13], When Mulrunji's sister brought lunch for him to the front section of the police station, she was not informed of events and was told to leave. This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 19:37. In response, residents took to the streets and burnt down buildings, including the police station. 13.05 MB. [1] The death of Mulrunji led to civic disturbances on the island and a legal, political and media sensation that continued for fourteen years. The family and the state coroner were informed of the death at about 3pm that afternoon. the inappropriate and partial treatment of SS Hurley; the conduct of DSS Kitching in relation to the autopsy report; the failure to communicate with Palm Islanders and defuse tensions in the intervening week between Mulrunjis death and the protests and fires; the making and continuation of the emergency declaration after the evening of 26 November 2004; and, the arrests, entries and searches of the houses of the applicants and the subgroup members. However, Leafe said he believed Hurley's prosecution was a cynical political exercise. [15], During the weekend the tactical response group searched many homes. She decided that the inquest would start afresh on 29 March 2005, with a three-day directions hearing in Brisbane.

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