Police say cause of Kumanjayi White's death in custody still not known

Kumanjayi White's family say they are "heartbroken" by the decision not to lay charges. (ABC News: Xavier Martin) NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole says the medical cause of Kumanjayi White's death remains "equivocal" and will be examined by the coroner. Police yesterday announced no charges would be laid against the two officers who restrained Mr White in an Alice Springs supermarket last May. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, says the practice of police investigating deaths in police custody needs to end. Link copiedShareShare articleAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of their family. Police say the cause of an Aboriginal man's death in custody in Alice Springs remains medically undetermined and the criminal case against the officers who restrained him closed. The 24-year-old Warlpiri man known now as Kumanjayi White for cultural reasons, and who lived with disabilities, died after he was restrained by two officers in the confectionary aisle of the town's Coles supermarket one year ago today. A vigil was held at the Coles supermarket shortly after Kumanjayi White's death in police custody at the store. (ABC News: Xavier Martin) On Tuesday, Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said prosecutors had advised there were no reasonable prospects of criminal convictions against either officer. After originally declining to answer questions about final autopsy results, citing the upcoming coronial inquest, Commissioner Dole told ABC Alice Springs on Wednesday that the cause of Mr White's death remained "equivocal". "Obviously a cause of death was associated with that event, but that will be examined fully in the coronial process." The commissioner also revealed that it was Queensland police that had provided the additional review requested by NT prosecutors and deemed the use of force involved appropriate. Martin Dole told ABC Alice Springs the cause of Kumanjayi White's death remains unclear. (ABC News: Tahnee Jash) Mr White's family told the ABC on Tuesday they were "heartbroken" by the decision not to lay charges. His death sparked nationwide protests last year where the family's calls for an independent investigation was echoed by protesters condemning government inaction on Aboriginal deaths in custody. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss on Wednesday said Mr White's case "highlights the urgent need" for reform. "Police should not be investigating other police," she said. "Investigations must be conducted by organisations and individuals who have no potential or perceived conflicts of interest. "The timing of this announcement on the eve of the anniversary and on National Sorry Day has caused additional harm and distress to our people." She said there have been 634 Indigenous deaths in custody since the 1991 royal commission into the issue and 16 this year. Katie Kiss believes investigations into deaths in police custody should be conducted by independent organisations. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi) The inquest into Mr White's death is expected to take place in the second half of the year with a directions hearing set for next month. On Wednesday Commissioner Dole said the police investigation had "absolutely" criminally exonerated the officers, who are still employees of the NT Police Force. But he said he expected the coronial inquest to produce broader recommendations "that we'll have to look at when they come". In preparation for the inquest Commissioner Dole said the agency was reviewing its policies guiding interactions with people with disabilities. The family of Kumanjayi White tell the ABC they are "heartbroken" that no charges will be laid over his death in custody, as NT Police confirm their criminal investigation has concluded. He also defended the timing of Tuesday's announcement, saying the advice from prosecutors was provided to police on Monday. He said that he intended to reach out to the Warlpiri community in Yuendumu, where he previously worked, but would wait until "the time is right". Asked whether police were concerned about unrest in Alice Springs following the announcement Commissioner Dole said the community's anger and grief were understandable. "People are going to be hurting. They're going to be grieving over this and that's understandable,” he said. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesKalshi and Polymarket are billion dollar bets banned from Australia — for nowTopic:Gambling

Police say cause of Kumanjayi White's death in custody still not known

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Police say cause of Kumanjayi White's death in custody still not known

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