By Nick Harmsen on Palm Island
The inquest into the death-in-custody of a Palm Island man will go ahead
on the north Queensland island, but some witnesses will be able to give
their testimony from the mainland.
Last November the death of the 36-year-old man in the Palm Island
watchhouse inflamed tensions between locals and police, eventually
leading to a riot.
The man's family has asked he be referred to by his tribal name Mulrinji.
Today, hundreds packed the makeshift court house on the island where
Coroner Michael Barnes explained the details of the inquest.
Lawyers for the man's family argued the whole process should be carried
out on the island so justice could be seen to be done.
But lawyers for the police officers involved in his arrest successfully
argued it would be too great a security risk for those men to return.
The police will give their testimonies in Townsville, along with at
least five expert witnesses. |
