Qld: Police officer won't be charged over Palm Island death

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2006
Qld: Police officer won't be charged over Palm Island death

A senior Queensland police officer .. blamed over a death in custody of a Palm Island
man .. has been cleared .. after the state's top prosecutor deemed it a terrible accident.

Director of Public Prosecutions LEANNE CLARE says there's no evidence Senior Sergeant
CHRIS HURLEY was criminally responsible for the death of 36-year-old MULRUNJI DOOMADGEE
.. at the Palm Island police station in November 2004.

Ms CLARE says MULRUNJI died from internal injuries caused by a crushing force to the
front of his abdomen .. when he and Senior Sergeant HURLEY fell together through the open
door of the police station.

The island erupted into riots .. after an autopsy found MULRUNJI suffered four broken
ribs .. a ruptured liver and a ruptured portal vein in the scuffle.

Deputy state coroner CHRISTINE CLEMENTS ruled in September Senior Sergeant HURLEY struck
MULRUNJI .. causing his fatal injuries.





Townsville-based Aboriginal activist .. GRACELYN SMALLWOOD .. says the DPP's decision
is another slap in the face for indigenous Australians.

She says it's the police investigating the police.

Around a dozen family members and supporters were asked to leave the DPP's office in
Townsville .. moments before Mrs CLARE explained her findings at a news conference.

AAP RTV dd/sc/wf/ibw/bart

KEYWORD: MULRUNJI CHARGES (TOWNSVILLE)

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