Doomadgee family receives death compensation

originally by: ABC News
20th May 2011

There are reports the family of a man who died in a Palm Island watch-house in 2004 has received $370,000 in compensation from the Queensland Government. Cameron Doomadgee, 36, died in police custody soon after being arrested by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, with island residents off Townsville rioting after news of his death.

An autopsy showed Mr Doomadgee died from massive internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen. His liver was almost cleaved in two across his spine. The officer was later acquitted of manslaughter.

22 May 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Police neglected cell death man, says jury

originally by: BBC News
18th May 2011

Failures by custody staff at Bath police station contributed directly to the death of a man found drunk in the street, an inquest has found. Mark Graeme Read, 39, who was taken into custody for his own safety, choked to death on his own vomit. The jury at Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court returned a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect. Avon and Somerset Police said it had now implemented recommendations for improving its custody practice.

Mr Read, from Frome, in Somerset, had been out celebrating the birth of his seven-week-old daughter when he was arrested for being drunk in 2008.

13 April 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Campaigner: ‘Pressure cuts deaths in custody’

originally by: Socialist Worker Online
published: 13th April 2011

Tippa Naphtali is the cousin of Mikey Powell, who died in police custody in 2003. He spoke to Socialist Worker

“Smiley Culture’s case should be a spark to help light up the issue of deaths in custody. I’m one year younger than him. I had the privilege to meet him. He was such an icon in the 1980s and 1990s, I looked up to him back in the day.

Because no other victim of death in custody has been as high profile a figure, as sad as it is, we need to use the opportunity. We need to raise the fact that this has been going on for a long time.

There is remarkable little mention of deaths in custody in the media. We have to keep it in the limelight. One difficulty for families is that there is lots of support in the early days then it dies away. It is important to keep pushing.