Qld cops didn’t touch Indigenous man

Fraser Barton | November 18, 2022

Queensland police did not have “physical contact” with an Indigenous man who died in their custody last week, according to an internal police probe.

The 51-year-old was found unresponsive in a police watch-house cell after being arrested over domestic violence allegations in the remote Cape York Indigenous community of Kowanyama on November 9.

Police say the officers tried to give the man first aid before he was rushed to the Kowanyama Medical Clinic, where he was declared dead.

The police Ethical Standards Command says video footage shows the three officers involved, who have been transferred to other duties outside Kowanyama, did not touch the man.

“The members involved did not have physical contact with the man at the time of the incident,” police said in a statement on Friday.

“The man’s family members have viewed CCTV of the incident as part of the QPS’ commitment to an open and transparent investigation of this matter.”

The matter remains before the State Coroner and the Crime and Corruption Commission will provide independent oversight of the investigation.