Queensland police colluded to protect an officer who caused the fatal injuries to an Aboriginal man in his custody, a coroner has found.
However, Coroner Brian Hine said the unreliability of police and Aboriginal witnesses meant he was not able to make a definitive finding on the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee.
Mulrunji died on the floor of a watch-house cell on Palm Island in November 2004.
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Hurley 'caused injuries'
Mr Hine accepted the fatal injuries suffered by Mulrunji - a burst portal vein and a liver which was cleaved in two - were caused by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.
However he was unable to rule whether the injuries were inflicted deliberately or accidentally.
Mr Hine said the injuries could have been caused by Sen Sgt Hurley accidentally falling on top of Mulrunji or by the officer "dropping a knee into his torso".
He also accepted Sen Sgt Hurley had punch Mulrunji in the face and abused him during his attempts to force him into the police station.
