Doomadgee family receives death compensation

Updated May 20, 2011 19:46:00

Cameron Doomadgee (right) died in custody soon after being arrested by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley. (ABC TV)

There are reports the family of a man who died in a Palm Island watch-house in 2004 has received $370,000 in compensation from the Queensland Government.

Cameron Doomadgee, 36, died in police custody soon after being arrested by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, with island residents off Townsville rioting after news of his death.

An autopsy showed Mr Doomadgee died from massive internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen. His liver was almost cleaved in two across his spine.

The officer was later acquitted of manslaughter.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says Mr Doomadgee's family is entitled to compensation.

She says the details are confidential and will not be made public.

"That is not unusual. People who experience these sorts of crimes, whether there's a conviction or not, are entitled under our laws and there's no difference with this family," she said.

"I'm not in a position to confirm the amount. That is a confidential matter for them."

Meanwhile, the Queensland Police Union (QPU) is seeking about $1 million in legal costs for Senior Sergeant Hurley.

Ms Bligh says the government is seeking advice on whether it will have to pay the union's legal costs and no decision has been made.

"An application has been made, crown law advice has been sought, and I have yet to receive that advice, so there's been no decision made but the application has been put forward," she said.

The QPU says its request to be reimbursed for legal expenses stemming from the case is reasonable.

"This Government has spent millions and millions of dollars on this whole issue, and what we are seeking to be reimbursed is a drop in the ocean," union president Ian Leavers said.

"I do know taxpayers and ordinary Queenslanders would believe that if you're doing your job, your employer should protect you."

Tags: community-and-society, indigenous, black-deaths-in-custody, federal-state-issues, states-and-territories, law-crime-and-justice, crime, police, australia, qld, palm-island-4815

First posted May 20, 2011 19:32:00

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Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/20/3222871.htm

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