Witnesses testify to mirror at watchhouse

9 Mar 2010, 6:12 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Children protest at the jailing of a Palm Island resident. (File: AAP)

Children protest at the jailing of a Palm Island resident. (File: AAP)

Two witnesses at an inquest into an Aboriginal death in custody have contradicted police claims that there was no mirror through which a third witness says he saw the action leading up to the death.

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Two witnesses at an inquest into an Aboriginal death in custody have contradicted police claims that there was no mirror through which a third witness says he saw the action leading up to the death.

Roy Bramwell, 35, told the inquest into the 2004 death of Cameron Doomadgee that he saw Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley punch Mr Doomadgee.

He said he witnessed the punch via a convex mirror mounted on the watchhouse wall.

However, no mirror could be seen on a video re-enactment of the incident played to the court on Tuesday.

But two witnesses, former community police officer Vincent Thimble and local Lance Pointer, told the inquest there was a mirror in the position indicated by Mr Bramwell.

Mr Bramwell also told the inquest a detective tore up his initial statement given the day after the death.

He said Detective Sergeant Darren Robinson warned him not to mention allegations Sen Sgt Chris Hurley repeatedly punched Mr Doomadgee as he attempted to force him into a cell of the watchhouse.

"He told me 'Hurley is a good man. He is my friend. If anything happens to him I'll certainly come after you'," Mr Bramwell told the inquest, sitting on Palm Island, off Townsville.

"Everything in that (previous) statement there is a lie."

Mr Bramwell has previously come under criticism for variations in his evidence.

It has previously been suggested he could not have seen anything because his view was obscured by a filing cabinet.

Counsel assisting the inquiry Ralph Devlin, SC, said they would submit statements from police that there was no mirror.

The inquest into Mr Doomadgee's death was reopened after the Queensland police union successfully appealed a 2006 finding that Sen Sgt Hurley fatally injured Mr Doomadgee by punching him repeatedly.

Sen Sgt Hurley was acquitted of manslaughter by a jury in Townsville Supreme Court in 2007.

Medical experts testified at the 2006 hearings that Mr Doomadgee suffered injuries similar to those seen in motor accidents, which included broken ribs, a burst portal vein and a liver which was almost cleaved in two.

They found the injuries could have been caused by Sen Sgt Hurley falling on top of Mr Doomadgee with his knee protruding as they stumbled into the police station, or by Sen Sgt Hurley intentionally "dropping his knee" into Mr Doomadgee as he lay on the floor.

The inquest is expected to run until Friday before deputy chief magistrate Brian Hine. Sen Sgt Hurley is due to give evidence on Thursday.

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