Qld: Doomadgee inquest won't rule out accidental death

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2009
Qld: Doomadgee inquest won't rule out accidental death

BRISBANE, Dec 21 AAP - A pre-inquest hearing into the death of Cameron Doomadgee has
knocked back a submission from the Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick to rule out
accidental death.

Mr Doomadgee died in custody at the Palm Island police station off the Townsville coast
in far north Queensland five years ago after being arrested for being drunk and causing
a nuisance.

An earlier inquest found Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley responsible for Mr Doomadgee's
fatal injuries but the officer was cleared of manslaughter in 2007.

The inquest into how he died has been re-opened and a new coroner has been appointed
to re-examine evidence into whether Sen Sgt Hurley was responsible for Mr Doomadgee's
death.

The attorney-general's submission called for accidental death to be ruled out, a pre-inquest
at the Brisbane Magistrates Court heard on Monday.

Sen Sgt Hurley's lawyer Glen Cranny argued the attorney-general's involvement was unnecessary.

Coroner Brian Hines rejected the attorney-general's submission.

"I must say I don't feel that it's possible to rule out accident at this stage until
I have heard all of the evidence," he said.

Another pre-inquest hearing will be held on February 5.

The inquest will start on March 8 at Palm Island before moving to Townsville.

Sen Sgt Hurley may appear via video-link from Brisbane, as his partner is expected
to give birth around that time, the court heard.

AAP peb/cdh

KEYWORD: DOOMADGEE WRAP

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