Qld: Doomadgee appeal prepared as royal commission calls grow

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2008
Qld: Doomadgee appeal prepared as royal commission calls grow

Calls for a royal commission into the death in custody of CAMERON DOOMADGEE are growing
.. as his family prepares to appeal the quashing of a coroner's findings into his death.

Mr DOOMADGEE died on the floor of a cell at Palm Island watchhouse a short time after
being arrested for swearing in November 2004.

A coroner's finding in 2006 that arresting officer Senior Sergeant CHRIS HURLEY fatally
injured Mr DOOMADGEE by punching him repeatedly was this week overturned in the Townsville
District Court.

The inquest will be re-opened in 2009.

Lawyers for Mr DOOMADGEE'S family and defacto wife TRACEY TWADDLE say they'll appeal
the court's decision.

Brisbane-based Boe Lawyers say they support calls by indigenous leaders for a royal
commission into the matter and the initial police investigation .. which has been heavily
criticised.

AAP RTV jmm/pjo/af

KEYWORD: HURLEY (BRISBANE)

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