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Family want answers after death in custody

The family of a man who has died in custody wants a meeting with Queensland's premier to spark a national discussion about indigenous services.

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Source: AAP


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The family of an indigenous man who died while in police custody in southeast Queensland is seeking a meeting with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Shaun Coolwell, 33, died at Logan Hospital on October 2 after police arrested him at a home in the Logan suburb of Kingston earlier that morning.

Police say Mr Coolwell, who already had injuries, was acting aggressively and was handcuffed for his own safety.

Ambulance officers treated him on the scene before he was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Mr Coolwell's family says he was distressed that morning because he was mourning the death of his brother, Bradley Coolwell, who died in police custody four years earlier.

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Family spokesman Sam Watson says Mr Coolwell had hurt himself and was bleeding so his family called an ambulance and it was paramedics who called police.

He says witnesses saw about 12 police cars arrive on the scene.

"Shaun was smashed down onto the floor and they used their knees and shoulders to hold him and handcuffed his hands behind his back. It's just not good enough," Mr Watson said.

"This man was in distress."

Mr Coolwell's relative Sonya Coghill said the family was seeking a meeting with Ms Palaszczuk to spark a national round table discussion about a lack of support for indigenous families.

"Our people are dying and families are falling apart and discussions have to occur at the very highest levels with those families who are just trying to survive," Ms Coghill said.

"But first we are asking for privacy to mourn and grieve for the loss of our brother."

The Crime and Corruption Commission will oversee a police ethical standards command investigation of the incident.

A report will also be prepared for the coroner.


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