Racist horror on Palm Island?

Bun-Huns - if rounding up 'darkies' and sending them to Nauru would be a hit with the electorate they'd be doing that too.

This nation has gone beyond 'the dogs' it has reverted to a wolfish, proto-dog ancestor with none of the nicer traits of dogs in general*.








*huntin' rabbits for one, leading the blind and finding drugs too.... I suppose

Is Australia now im imitating the USA? Sanctions of torture against terrorism suspects next?

Huh?


No.


If you do not consider splitting livers unpunished because of legal crap torture, what is?


This has nothing to do with terrorism.

I think you misunderstood me, Deb. I was commiserating.

Looks like she doesn't read your commiserating posts, MA!
(Don't misunderstand me!)

I know.


It's just that we do not need to follow America in inflicting stuff.


Humans do it on their own...they do not need to follow other humans.

Yuck.

And Queensland government tries to handle issue:

Tensions erupt over Palm Island findings


Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has urged all parties to "cool it" as he seeks to quell the public furore sparked by a coroner's findings into an indigenous man's death in custody on Palm Island.

Indigenous leaders and the member for Townsville, Mike Reynolds, have criticised police commissioner Bob Atkinson's decision not to stand down the officer at the centre of the storm, Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.

The state's police union, meanwhile, again has attacked deputy state coroner Christine Clements's controversial findings on the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee, accusing her of having an anti-police agenda.

But Mr Beattie called on both sides to exercise restraint.

"It is absolutely essential that we all moderate our comments in relation to these matters, particularly in respect of the coroner, until we see what the Director of Public Prosecutions is going to say," he said.

"I think everyone should just cool it. Let due process take its course."

Ms Clements ruled on Wednesday that Sgt Hurley was responsible for the death of Mulrunji in the Palm Island watchhouse in November 2004.

She found Sgt Hurley had struck Mulrunji, causing fatal injuries, and ruled his arrest for drunk and disorderly was unnecessary.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mulrunji had four broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and a liver almost split in half.

She did not recommend charges against the officer, however, instead referring the matter to the DPP, who is considering the matter.

Townsville state Labor MP Mike Reynolds said the past two years had been stressful for Palm Islanders and repeated a call for Sgt Hurley to be stood down.

"I think the people of Palm Island over the last two years have gone to hell and back," he said.

"This has been a traumatic and emotional time for the island as a whole.

"We've now seen the report come down and I have called on the Police Commissioner (Bob Atkinson) to stand down Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley."

Mr Reynolds said Mr Atkinson's decision to place Sgt Hurley on non-operational duties was not severe enough.

He also said he was disturbed by comments from the Queensland Police Union that labelled Ms Clements's findings as a "witch hunt".

"I would hate to see Queensland go back to pre-Fitzgerald (Inquiry) days when the Queensland Police Union is trying to question the independence of a judicial officer in such an important issue for the indigenous residents on Palm Island," Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Beattie said the government would implement most of the 40 recommendations made by Ms Clements.

But the government could not ensure watchhouses in remote centres were monitored around the clock and had no plans to decriminalise public drunkenness.

The first suggestion was unworkable, while the second was not in the public interest, Mr Beattie said.



Article




I would hate to be the Director of Public Prosecutions in the eye of this storm.

The following extract is taken from Wikipedia regarding Palm Island.

"The Island is a classic 'tropical paradise' in its natural endowments, but has had a troubled human history. Palm Island is now home to 4,000 Indigenous Australians, making it the largest Aboriginal community in Australia. The community, deriving from about 42 mainland tribes, suffers from chronic alcohol, drug and domestic abuse, has an unemployment rate of 90% and an average life expectancy of 50 years, thirty less than the national average. In 1999, the Guinness Book of Records listed Palm Island as the most violent place on earth outside a combat zone.

Criminologist Dr Paul Wilson found Palm Island to have one of the highest rates of violent crime anywhere in the developed world and possibly in the undeveloped world as well. He suggested that the most plausible explanation of the homicide and assault rates lies with the recent destruction and disorganisation of traditional society that accompanied white settlement and conquest."

A few years ago I saw a documentary on the island. The crime situation is terrible - no attempt is made by the criminal elements to hide their activities. Because of the high unemployment, nearly everyone receives the dole. Extortion gangs just do the rounds every fortnight forcing people to sign over their dole money, and if they have already signed it over to someone else, they get beaten up for their trouble.

I just cannot believe that the Queensland Government seems to have done nothing to address the problems facing Palm Islanders.

I am by no means trying to justify Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley's vicious attack on Mulrunji Doornadgee, however I think we are entitled to hear the full story of how the killing happened.

I see the actual killing as one burst pustule on the deep-seated infection that is Palm Island.

It sounds as though there is insufficient and ineffectual policing of the island. Again, I am not trying to defend the police, but one wonders what strategies are in place to control and combat crime on the island, to protect the victims of the criminals, to encourage and assist the islanders to have better lives. Obviously, when trouble does erupt, the police are going to be involved.

Mr Beattie is quoted as saying -
".....But the government could not ensure watchhouses in remote centres were monitored around the clock and had no plans to decriminalise public drunkenness.

The first suggestion was unworkable, while the second was not in the public interest," Mr Beattie said.

Given the problems Palm Islanders are experiencing, surely it is the Government's responsibility to ensure watchhouses ARE in fact monitored around the clock if necessary and that something proactive is done about the drunkenness.

It is the responsibility of the Queensland Government to come up with suggestions that ARE workable and that ARE in the public interest.

Palm Island is a disgrace.

As Mark Bahnisch wrote:

.... At this stage, Beattie is talking due process in terms of the DPP and studying the recommendations. Of course, many are not dissimilar from those made by the Deaths in Custody Royal Commission 15 years ago and still not implemented.

A bloody disgrace.

However guilty Sgt Hurley may be - the buck stops with Beattie. He is more responsible. He can call up the necessary resources and he has been there long enough to get the job done.

I've followed this case from the start, and I'm not happy with the outcome.

From my humble position of observer, rather than activist, I can see three alternatives.

1. Remove all non-indigenes from Palm Island, and leave these people to experience life as true indigenous hunter/gatherers.

2. Remove all access to alcohol on Palm Island, for both indigenous and non-indegenous peoples.

3. Prosecute Sgt. Hurley on a manslaughter charge, and see all subsequent Police officers on the island, take the blame for his actions. (as if they aren't going to cop the fallout anyway)


Alcohol is the major issue here people, second only to zero employment prospects.

If you want to get ahead in life, why live where there is zero chance of seeking gainful employment?

If you choose to drink away your welfare cheque, and expect someone else to educate and feed your children, you get what you are given.

Hurley and his ilk are chosen for these positions because they are physically able to deal with drunken violence.

Nobody knows what happened in that cell that day, except for Hurley.

I do know that broken ribs are possible in a fall, but a split liver is not.

This is a link to the coroners findings :

http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/courts/coroner/findings/mulrunji270906.pdf

The injury that killed Mulrunji is a liver cleaved in two, hanging by only a few blood vessels. The damage was caused by the liver being compressed against the spine with such force that it split in half. This is only possible if the front rib cage is compressed almost against the rear ribcage.

The coroner 'found' that this compression was caused by a punch. Whether you believe even Mike Tyson is capable of such a punch, such a finding will always be open to conjecture, and is opinion only. The retired judge, Sir Lawrence Street, who eventually recommended charges be laid, disagrees with the coroner that a punch could have caused the injury, believing that it was caused by a knee during a fall, when Snr Sgt Hurley and Mulrunji fell over together, at the entrance to the watchhouse (though I do not remember any party having ever made such a claim)

What is not included in the findings, is that Mulrunji was involved in a traffic accident the day before his untimely death

On the "traffic accident", if his liver was split by impacting a car the previous day, he would not have lived more than a couple of hours, and his ribcage would have been shattered.

You can't breathe properly with broken ribs, and you certainly can't fart, cough, or sneeze, let alone participate in a fight.

I understand that much. What I don't know is if his liver could be ruptured in an accident, and then a fall do the rest? (because it is at the point of the fall that Mulrunji stopped struggling). As for the breathing difficulty of broken ribs, the decease was highly intoxicated at time of death - which may have disguised isuch.

Hurley may or may not be guilty of causing the injuries. My problem with the whole matter is imagining any person being capable of applying enough force to cause a liver to be cleaved in two. I would come back to World Champion Boxers, no rules fighters and martial artists - I've never heard of a similar injury being caused by one of them (then again, maybe it's simply as I said - I just haven't heard)

The officer in question had also dedicated most of his working life to serving in Aboriginal communities. It seems odd that he should suddenly decide he dislikes aboriginals enough to bash one of them to death.

That Mulrunji wrestled with him is hardly an unusual occurence for any police officer, let alone one working on Palm Island (Palm Island, in one international (not Australian) study, was found to be the most violent place on earth, outside of a warzone).

The 'witness' who allegedly saw Hurley punching the deceased changed his story on a number of occasions, and also had reason to be vindictive towards Hurley, who had that day been investigating a domestic violence case against this witness.

The coroner who found that Hurley had caused Mulrunji's death by a punch is about the only one of an opinion that a punch could cause such injuries (A female coroner, who in my opinion didn't understand the the level of force required to rupture the liver vs the level of force a punch can deliver). The retired justice that recommended he stand trial said it was caused by a knee (though I recall no mention of any allegation of a knee).

The retired justice recommended these charges. It is the first case in Queensland history, where the ruling of the DPP has been overruled by politicians (and the DPP, knowing the sensitivity of this case, already had an independant justice review the case before publicly releasing it's ruling)

The DPP's ruling was that there was not enough evidence for Hurley to stand trial.

The retired justice (effectively a third opinion), who is a highly respected legal mind, is also known for his pro aboriginal stance (this is just information. Whether or not it effects a ex-justices decision is open to debate - likely in the negative).

Whether or not Hurley did in fact cause the injuries will probably only ever been known by one person - Hurley.

The police officers who work with Hurley would know his character, but if they spoke for him (re his character), no one would believe them, and I doubt any officer, not knowing the circumstances, would speak against him.

I understand that much. What I don't know is if his liver could be ruptured in an accident, and then a fall do the rest? (because it is at the point of the fall that Mulrunji stopped struggling). As for the breathing difficulty of broken ribs, the decease was highly intoxicated at time of death - which may have disguised isuch.

Hurley may or may not be guilty of causing the injuries. My problem with the whole matter is imagining any person being capable of applying enough force to cause a liver to be cleaved in two. I would come back to World Champion Boxers, no rules fighters and martial artists - I've never heard of a similar injury being caused by one of them (then again, maybe it's simply as I said - I just haven't heard)

The officer in question had also dedicated most of his working life to serving in Aboriginal communities. It seems odd that he should suddenly decide he dislikes aboriginals enough to bash one of them to death.

That Mulrunji wrestled with him is hardly an unusual occurence for any police officer, let alone one working on Palm Island (Palm Island, in one international (not Australian) study, was found to be the most violent place on earth, outside of a warzone).

The 'witness' who allegedly saw Hurley punching the deceased changed his story on a number of occasions, and also had reason to be vindictive towards Hurley, who had that day been investigating a domestic violence case against this witness.

The coroner who found that Hurley had caused Mulrunji's death by a punch is about the only one of an opinion that a punch could cause such injuries (A female coroner, who in my opinion didn't understand the the level of force required to rupture the liver vs the level of force a punch can deliver). The retired justice that recommended he stand trial said it was caused by a knee (though I recall no mention of any allegation of a knee).

The retired justice recommended these charges. It is the first case in Queensland history, where the ruling of the DPP has been overruled by politicians (and the DPP, knowing the sensitivity of this case, already had an independant justice review the case before publicly releasing it's ruling)

The DPP's ruling was that there was not enough evidence for Hurley to stand trial.

The retired justice (effectively a third opinion), who is a highly respected legal mind, is also known for his pro aboriginal stance (this is just information. Whether or not it effects a ex-justices decision is open to debate - likely in the negative).

Whether or not Hurley did in fact cause the injuries will probably only ever been known by one person - Hurley.

The police officers who work with Hurley would know his character, but if they spoke for him (re his character), no one would believe them, and I doubt any officer, not knowing the circumstances, would speak against him.

I understand that much. What I don't know is if his liver could be ruptured in an accident, and then a fall do the rest? (because it is at the point of the fall that Mulrunji stopped struggling). As for the breathing difficulty of broken ribs, the decease was highly intoxicated at time of death - which may have disguised isuch.

Hurley may or may not be guilty of causing the injuries. My problem with the whole matter is imagining any person being capable of applying enough force to cause a liver to be cleaved in two. I would come back to World Champion Boxers, no rules fighters and martial artists - I've never heard of a similar injury being caused by one of them (then again, maybe it's simply as I said - I just haven't heard)

The officer in question had also dedicated most of his working life to serving in Aboriginal communities. It seems odd that he should suddenly decide he dislikes aboriginals enough to bash one of them to death.

That Mulrunji wrestled with him is hardly an unusual occurence for any police officer, let alone one working on Palm Island (Palm Island, in one international (not Australian) study, was found to be the most violent place on earth, outside of a warzone).

The 'witness' who allegedly saw Hurley punching the deceased changed his story on a number of occasions, and also had reason to be vindictive towards Hurley, who had that day been investigating a domestic violence case against this witness.

The coroner who found that Hurley had caused Mulrunji's death by a punch is about the only one of an opinion that a punch could cause such injuries (A female coroner, who in my opinion didn't understand the the level of force required to rupture the liver vs the level of force a punch can deliver). The retired justice that recommended he stand trial said it was caused by a knee (though I recall no mention of any allegation of a knee).

The retired justice recommended these charges. It is the first case in Queensland history, where the ruling of the DPP has been overruled by politicians (and the DPP, knowing the sensitivity of this case, already had an independant justice review the case before publicly releasing it's ruling)

The DPP's ruling was that there was not enough evidence for Hurley to stand trial.

The retired justice (effectively a third opinion), who is a highly respected legal mind, is also known for his pro aboriginal stance (this is just information. Whether or not it effects a ex-justices decision is open to debate).

Whether or not Hurley did in fact cause the injuries will probably only ever been known by one person - Hurley.

The police officers who work with Hurley would know his character, but if they spoke for him (re his character), no one would believe them, and I doubt any officer, not knowing the circumstances, would speak against him.

I understand that much. What I don't know is if his liver could be ruptured in an accident, and then a fall do the rest? (because it is at the point of the fall that Mulrunji stopped struggling). As for the breathing difficulty of broken ribs, the decease was highly intoxicated at time of death - which may have disguised isuch.

Hurley may or may not be guilty of causing the injuries. My problem with the whole matter is imagining any person being capable of applying enough force to cause a liver to be cleaved in two. I would come back to World Champion Boxers, no rules fighters and martial artists - I've never heard of a similar injury being caused by one of them (then again, maybe it's simply as I said - I just haven't heard)

The officer in question had also dedicated most of his working life to serving in Aboriginal communities. It seems odd that he should suddenly decide he dislikes aboriginals enough to bash one of them to death.

That Mulrunji wrestled with him is hardly an unusual occurence for any police officer, let alone one working on Palm Island (Palm Island, in one international (not Australian) study, was found to be the most violent place on earth, outside of a warzone).

The 'witness' who allegedly saw Hurley punching the deceased changed his story on a number of occasions, and also had reason to be vindictive towards Hurley, who had that day been investigating a domestic violence case against this witness.

The coroner who found that Hurley had caused Mulrunji's death by a punch is about the only one of an opinion that a punch could cause such injuries (A female coroner, who in my opinion didn't understand the the level of force required to rupture the liver vs the level of force a punch can deliver). The retired justice that recommended he stand trial said it was caused by a knee (though I recall no mention of any allegation of a knee).

The retired justice recommended these charges. It is the first case in Queensland history, where the ruling of the DPP has been overruled by politicians (and the DPP, knowing the sensitivity of this case, already had an independant justice review the case before publicly releasing it's ruling)

The DPP's ruling was that there was not enough evidence for Hurley to stand trial.

The retired justice (effectively a third opinion), who is a highly respected legal mind, is also known for his pro aboriginal stance (this is just information. Whether or not it effects a ex-justices decision is open to debate).

Whether or not Hurley did in fact cause the injuries will probably only ever been known by one person - Hurley.

The police officers who work with Hurley would know his character, but if they spoke for him (re his character), no one would believe them, and I doubt any officer, not knowing the circumstances, would speak against him.

I understand that much. What I don't know is if his liver could be ruptured in an accident, and then a fall do the rest? (because it is at the point of the fall that Mulrunji stopped struggling). As for the breathing difficulty of broken ribs, the decease was highly intoxicated at time of death - which may have disguised isuch.

Hurley may or may not be guilty of causing the injuries. My problem with the whole matter is imagining any person being capable of applying enough force to cause a liver to be cleaved in two. I would come back to World Champion Boxers, no rules fighters and martial artists - I've never heard of a similar injury being caused by one of them (then again, maybe it's simply as I said - I just haven't heard)

The officer in question had also dedicated most of his working life to serving in Aboriginal communities. It seems odd that he should suddenly decide he dislikes aboriginals enough to bash one of them to death.

That Mulrunji wrestled with him is hardly an unusual occurence for any police officer, let alone one working on Palm Island (Palm Island, in one international (not Australian) study, was found to be the most violent place on earth, outside of a warzone).

The 'witness' who allegedly saw Hurley punching the deceased changed his story on a number of occasions, and also had reason to be vindictive towards Hurley, who had that day been investigating a domestic violence case against this witness.

The coroner who found that Hurley had caused Mulrunji's death by a punch is about the only one of an opinion that a punch could cause such injuries (A female coroner, who in my opinion didn't understand the the level of force required to rupture the liver vs the level of force a punch can deliver). The retired justice that recommended he stand trial said it was caused by a knee (though I recall no mention of any allegation of a knee).

The retired justice recommended these charges. It is the first case in Queensland history, where the ruling of the DPP has been overruled by politicians (and the DPP, knowing the sensitivity of this case, already had an independant justice review the case before publicly releasing it's ruling)

The DPP's ruling was that there was not enough evidence for Hurley to stand trial.

The retired justice (effectively a third opinion), who is a highly respected legal mind, is also known for his pro aboriginal stance (this is just information. Whether or not it effects a ex-justices decision is open to debate - likely in the negative).

Whether or not Hurley did in fact cause the injuries will probably only ever been known by one person - Hurley.

The police officers who work with Hurley would know his character, but if they spoke for him (re his character), no one would believe them, and I doubt any officer, not knowing the circumstances, would speak against him.

I understand that much. What I don't know is if his liver could be ruptured in an accident, and then a fall do the rest? (because it is at the point of the fall that Mulrunji stopped struggling). As for the breathing difficulty of broken ribs, the decease was highly intoxicated at time of death - which may have disguised isuch.

Hurley may or may not be guilty of causing the injuries. My problem with the whole matter is imagining any person being capable of applying enough force to cause a liver to be cleaved in two. I would come back to World Champion Boxers, no rules fighters and martial artists - I've never heard of a similar injury being caused by one of them (then again, maybe it's simply as I said - I just haven't heard)

The officer in question had also dedicated most of his working life to serving in Aboriginal communities. It seems odd that he should suddenly decide he dislikes aboriginals enough to bash one of them to death.

That Mulrunji wrestled with him is hardly an unusual occurence for any police officer, let alone one working on Palm Island (Palm Island, in one international (not Australian) study, was found to be the most violent place on earth, outside of a warzone).

The 'witness' who allegedly saw Hurley punching the deceased changed his story on a number of occasions, and also had reason to be vindictive towards Hurley, who had that day been investigating a domestic violence case against this witness.

The coroner who found that Hurley had caused Mulrunji's death by a punch is about the only one of an opinion that a punch could cause such injuries (A female coroner, who in my opinion didn't understand the the level of force required to rupture the liver vs the level of force a punch can deliver). The retired justice that recommended he stand trial said it was caused by a knee (though I recall no mention of any allegation of a knee).

The retired justice recommended these charges. It is the first case in Queensland history, where the ruling of the DPP has been overruled by politicians (and the DPP, knowing the sensitivity of this case, already had an independant justice review the case before publicly releasing it's ruling)

The DPP's ruling was that there was not enough evidence for Hurley to stand trial.

The retired justice (effectively a third opinion), who is a highly respected legal mind, is also known for his pro aboriginal stance (this is just information. Whether or not it effects a ex-justices decision is open to debate - likely in the negative).

Whether or not Hurley did in fact cause the injuries will probably only ever been known by one person - Hurley.

The police officers who work with Hurley would know his character, but if they spoke for him (re his character), no one would believe them, and I doubt any officer, not knowing the circumstances, would speak against him.

I understand that much. What I don't know is if his liver could be ruptured in an accident, and then a fall do the rest? (because it is at the point of the fall that Mulrunji stopped struggling). As for the breathing difficulty of broken ribs, the decease was highly intoxicated at time of death - which may have disguised isuch.

Hurley may or may not be guilty of causing the injuries. My problem with the whole matter is imagining any person being capable of applying enough force to cause a liver to be cleaved in two. I would come back to World Champion Boxers, no rules fighters and martial artists - I've never heard of a similar injury being caused by one of them (then again, maybe it's simply as I said - I just haven't heard)

The officer in question had also dedicated most of his working life to serving in Aboriginal communities. It seems odd that he should suddenly decide he dislikes aboriginals enough to bash one of them to death.

That Mulrunji wrestled with him is hardly an unusual occurence for any police officer, let alone one working on Palm Island (Palm Island, in one international (not Australian) study, was found to be the most violent place on earth, outside of a warzone).

The 'witness' who allegedly saw Hurley punching the deceased changed his story on a number of occasions, and also had reason to be vindictive towards Hurley, who had that day been investigating a domestic violence case against this witness.

The coroner who found that Hurley had caused Mulrunji's death by a punch is about the only one of an opinion that a punch could cause such injuries (A female coroner, who in my opinion didn't understand the the level of force required to rupture the liver vs the level of force a punch can deliver). The retired justice that recommended he stand trial said it was caused by a knee (though I recall no mention of any allegation of a knee).

The retired justice recommended these charges. It is the first case in Queensland history, where the ruling of the DPP has been overruled by politicians (and the DPP, knowing the sensitivity of this case, already had an independant justice review the case before publicly releasing it's ruling)

The DPP's ruling was that there was not enough evidence for Hurley to stand trial.

The retired justice (effectively a third opinion), who is a highly respected legal mind, is also known for his pro aboriginal stance (this is just information. Whether or not it effects a ex-justices decision is open to debate).

Whether or not Hurley did in fact cause the injuries will probably only ever been known by one person - Hurley.

The police officers who work with Hurley would know his character, but if they spoke for him (re his character), no one would believe them, and I doubt any officer, not knowing the circumstances, would speak against him.