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.

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.

5 April 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Police watchdog investigates death of man in Birmingham

originally by: BBC News
3rd April 2011

Kingsley Burrell Brown was detained under the Mental Health Act last Sunday after officers attended an incident on Iknield Port Road, Birmingham. He was admitted to a unit in the city and later moved to a hospital where he died on Thursday, police said. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said post-mortem test results may be known early next week.

Maxi Hayles, chairman of the Birmingham Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit, told BBC News Mr Brown’s family were waiting to be told what caused his death at the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The IPCC said it had started an investigation into the circumstances around his death.