Saturday, January 27, 2007

CHARGES DUE FOR ABORIGINE'S DEATH !

Mulrunji Doomadgee's death sparked angry protests. An Australian police officer at the centre of a high-profile death in custody of an Aboriginal man is set to face manslaughter charges.
The move was announced by Queensland's attorney-general following a review of previous decisions in the case.
Senior Sergeant Christopher Hurley was accused by a coroner of causing the death of Cameron Doomadgee, 36, while he was in custody in 2004.
A 2006 decision not to press charges angered his community on Palm Island.
But the new decision that Sgt Hurley should face charges has angered the police, who are threatening to strike over the move.
Snr Sgt Hurley has been suspended from his job.
State attorney-general Kerry Shrine said he was acting on the advice of former New South Wales chief justice Sir Laurence Street, who was asked to review the previous decision by prosecutors not to pursue the case.
"Sir Laurence has advised me that he believes sufficient admissible evidence exists to support the institution of criminal proceedings," he said.
"Furthermore, Sir Laurence believes there is a reasonable prospect of a conviction."
Rioting
Mr Doomadgee, also known as Mulrunji, was found dead in a cell in the Palm Island local police station after he was arrested for being drunk in public.
He had suffered broken ribs and a ruptured liver and spleen.

'No charges' over death
Coroner accuses police
Protests rock Palm Island

His death, and the lack of any arrests or charges, prompted serious disturbances on Queensland's Palm Island, where an aboriginal settlement has been established since 1918.
The police station and court were burned to the ground.
A coroner at an inquest in September 2006 said Snr Sgt Hurley had been responsible for Mr Doomadgee's death, and accused the police of failing to investigate the death properly.
But the director of public prosecutions, Leanne Clare, ruled in December 2006 that there was not enough evidence to press charges, and called Mr Doomadgee's death a "terrible accident".
Mr Doomadgee's lawyer, Andrew Boe, described the latest decision as a "landmark".
"This is the first time a criminal charge has followed a death in custody in Australia's history," he said.
But the Queensland Police Union said its members were "furious" and were considering strike action.
"Police right across the state are incensed at this political interference and over the next few days we'll consult with them about what actions they will like to take," the union's vice-president Denis Fitzpatrick was quoted as saying.

BBC NEWS REPORT.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home