Palm Island inquest reopens, six years on

8 Mar 2010, 8:45 pm   -   Source: SBS
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Witnesses at an inquest into the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomagee have appeared exasperated as they faced another round of questions, six years after he died.

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Witnesses at an inquest into the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomagee have appeared exasperated as they faced another round of questions, six years after he died.

Mr Doomagee died in 2004 of massive internal injuries in the indigenous community's police cells, after he was arrested by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.

Sergeant Hurley was acquitted of his manslaughter in 2007, and authorities ordered a new inquest to try to work out how it happened.

"I think it's important to understand the Queensland Police Service haven't been brought to justice yet," said Palm Island mayor Alf Lacey.

"I think that's an important aspect of this case, someone's died in custody and someone needs to take some responsibility around it and that's all the community is looking for."

But after six years of hearings, some witnesses have complained that their recollection of events is fading.

Riots following death

Mr Doomagee was arrested - for allegedly swearing - and taken into custody by Sergeant Hurley. Hours later he was dead.

In the days that followed, outraged Palm Islanders burnt down the island's police station and courthouse.

The original coroner's report in 2006 found Sergeant Hurley repeatedly hit Mulrunji, causing his fatal injuries.

The police officer was charged with manslaughter and acquitted by a jury in 2007.

At the trial he conceded he must have fallen on Mulrunji, accidentally causing the injuries.

Scuffle in police garage

He then succeeded in having a court strike out the coroner's findings against him.

But last year the inquest was reopened.

Today, witnesses gave evidence in the island's new court house, just metres from the spot where Mr Mulrunji died.

They told the coroner there was a scuffle between Mr Mulrunji and Sergeant Hurley in the garage of the police station, before Sergeant Hurley punched Mulrunji and dragged him inside.

Six more people are due to give evidence, including a new witness, and the last will be Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.

The inquest contines. It is expected to last five days, including three in Townsville.

 

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