'The Tall Man', a film about Cameron Doomadgee's death in custody, has received a standing ovation at the Adelaide Film Festival, SBS' Karen Ashford reports.
The documentary chronicles the events surrounding the 2004 death of Cameron Doomadgee, who was named Mulrunji after his death, at the Palm Island police station in Far North Queensland.
Some six years of inquiries have delivered an open finding in relation to the actions of policeman Chris Hurley, the 'Tall Man' of the film.
The Doomadgee family hopes the movie will shed light on a complicated saga.
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The story behind the film
In November 2004 Cameron Doomadgee, who was named Mulrunji after his death, was arrested for drunkenness.
Forty-five minutes later he was dead, with four broken ribs and a liver almost cleaved in two.
Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley has denied assaulting him, maintaining he fell.
An initial coroner's report was critical of police, but the case didn't go to court due to insufficient evidence. Public protests led to a review and manslaughter charges were then laid against Mr Hurley. The 2007 trial found him not guilty.
A final inquest by Coroner Brian Hine last year delivered an open finding: Mr Doomadgee was assaulted but police collusion on evidence meant he couldn't say whether the death was deliberate or an accident.
Despite the charges, anger continues to simmer, just as details of Cameron Doomadgee's injuries sparked a riot, there are predictions of more to come.
Lasting consequences
Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner believes that “Aboriginal Australia is moving to a very militant stage where sooner or later there'll be a lot more attacks on police” – a movement he says he does not support.
Chris Hurley is now working on the Gold Coast.
The film about a family's grief over unanswered questions, and based on the award-winning book by Chloe Hooper, received a standing ovation at its premiere on Wednesday night.
As 'The Tall Man' screens at the Adelaide Film Festival, a report is pending over disciplinary action against six police officers and their handling of the death in custody investigation.
