Distance Great Palm Island – Townsville ≈ 60 km

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Last Update: Tuesday, November 23, 2004. 8:17am (AEDT)

Police re-inforcements maintain Palm Island calm

A video tape of the police watch-house on Palm Island in north Queensland has been taken into evidence as investigations continue into a death in custody.

Two police officers were removed from the island yesterday amid concerns for their safety, after a protest by up to 200 island residents.

A 36-year-old man died in a watch-house cell on Friday after police found him pale and with a weak pulse.

Police Minister Judy Spence says extra police have been sent from Townsville to maintain calm.

"There are concerns about safety issues on Palm Island and obviously people are very distressed on Palm Island to see one of their own community members die in this fashion," she said.

"We want to make sure that we can maintain law and order on the island."

Anger reaches boiling point after death in custody on Palm Island
Wednesday, 24 November 2004

PALM ISLAND: Two police officers have been transferred off Palm Island in north Queensland as community anger threatens to boil over in the wake of the death of an Aboriginal man in custody.

Up to 200 people from the Aboriginal community off Townsville marched on the island's police station earlier this week, demanding answers to the death of a 36-year-old man, known as Cameron, last Friday.

The father of two, described as a "quiet man" who was reportedly healthy and crabbing early on Friday morning, was arrested for being drunk and disorderly later that day.

Police said he became violent while in the island's watchhouse and was placed in a cell with another man, where he subsequently fell asleep.

A short time later, he was found to be pale and had a weak pulse, and died before ambulance officers could revive him.

Palm Island Council chairwoman Erykah Kyle said the march on the police station had started spontaneously and was fuelled by growing community anger with police.

"The community is very devastated," Ms Kyle said.

"Shock has just gone right through the community. People have been very angry.

"After 339 recommendations regarding deaths in custody, and hundreds of thousands of dollars, here we are approaching 2005 and it is still happening."

Ms Kyle, whose own son died in custody in 2001, said the level of incarceration of her people was unacceptable.

"Certainly something has got to change for Palm Islanders," Ms Kyle said.

"If it keeps going you can expect anything."

Another Palm Island community member, Elizabeth Clay, said the community had reached boiling point and was planning another protest.

Ms Clay said she had not seen such a level of anger, particularly among younger community members who were asking if excessive force was involved in Cameron's arrest.

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson has agreed to a council request to remove the officer in question from the island.

He, and an Aboriginal police liaison officer, have been temporarily transferred off the island as a safety precaution.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission is investigating the death as well as that of a second Aboriginal man who died while in police custody at Normanton on Saturday.

The Police Ethical Standards Command is also investigating, while a delegation of police officers is on Palm Island to liaise with the community over the issue.

Palm Island earned the dubious title of the most violent place on Earth outside a combat zone in the 1998 Guinness Book of Records. – AAP

www.nit.com.au

Tensions high over island death

25nov04

TENSIONS remain high on Palm Island off north Queensland after another spate of rock throwing at police following the death of an Aboriginal man in custody.

Building windows and walls were damaged and police cars dented by a group of youths about 11pm (AEST) yesterday, Northern Region Police Inspector Brian Richardson said.

"We had an incident where there were rocks thrown at the police station and also the police barracks and that's a continuation of things," Inspector Richardson said.

"They have certainly got a grievance about something and that was no doubt aggravated by the death."

On Tuesday, a police car also came under fire from rock throwers after officers on patrol stopped to dismantle a makeshift road block.

About 200 angry residents marched on the police station on Monday.

The officer in charge and an Aboriginal liaison officer have since been removed for their own protection.

Meanwhile, two officers from crime watchdog the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) have arrived to head the investigation into the death of 36-year-old Cameron Doomadgee in the police watch-house on Friday.

He had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly and was in the watch house for less than an hour when police found him looking pale and with a weak pulse.

An ambulance was called but the man could not be revived.

Some members of the Aboriginal community have alleged police bashed Mr Doomadgee on his arrest.

A spokesman for the coroner's office said the results of a post-mortem examination into the death of Mr Doomadgee would be released to his family and would not be made public.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said he had asked the CMC to investigate the allegations, but he had seen no evidence to support any claims of police brutality in the case.

"I'm not pre-judging the outcome of this but I'll be very keen to see who has made this claim and obviously monitor this case very closely as it proceeds," he said.

"One of the things I would ask for, of course, is for people on Palm Island to have confidence and faith in the investigative and inquiry process."

© The Australian

Hundreds riot over death
November 26, 2004

THE police station on Queensland's Palm Island has been burnt to the ground and other buildings damaged during a riot by up to 300 residents angry over a death in custody.

Up to 50 armed police reinforcements were today being flown to the Aboriginal settlement after hundreds of angry residents stormed the police station and adjoining courthouse early this afternoon, setting fire to the buildings with a petrol bomb.

Residents were believed to have blocked the airstrip with cars to stop police reinforcements being flown from nearby Townsville.

Palm Island resident Nicky Bull said the situation was worse than during this year's Redfern riots in Sydney.

"There's smoke everywhere, the police station's just about burnt to the ground as it is, as well as the residence where the police live," she told ABC radio.

"The atmosphere is just anger amongst the residents here but it's very, very freaky here at the moment because of a lot of those people are not used to seeing our people like this."

The riot follows the release of a post-mortem examination of Cameron Doomadgee, 36, who died in custody last Friday.

The autopsy found the man had four broken ribs and died from a punctured lung.

Another resident, Nicky Willis, told ABC radio: "The atmosphere over here at the moment is one that's full of anger because of what's come out of the coroner's report .

"It's one that's full of fear as well because there are a lot of good people that live on this land.

"There's a lot of elders that live here . . . and they are living in fear."

The Palm Island hospital has been locked down.

Palm Island has had a troubled history, earning the dubious title of the most violent place on Earth outside a combat zone in the 1998 Guinness Book of Records.

AAP

Emergency action on Palm Island

26nov04

POLICE took control of the airport, school and hospital on Palm Island today after an emergency situation was declared in the wake of violent riots over a death in custody.

Some residents, contractors and public servants, including 22 teachers, were evacuated from the island as police from Townsville and Cairns were flown in to reinforce officer numbers.

Angry mobs today burned down buildings and threatened to kill police and media on the island, off the north Queensland coast.

Up to 300 members of the Aboriginal community rioted over the death of local man Cameron Doomadgee, torching the island's police station, lobbing petrol bombs at the police residential barracks and attacking other government-owned buildings.

Government and other workers locked themselves in the island's hospital, while others fled in fear for their lives.

An emergency situation was declared this afternoon, allowing police to execute powers such as closing the airport, taking control of resources and buildings and closing roads.

The police response to the violence will be coordinated from major incident rooms in Brisbane and Townsville, under the command of Deputy Police Commissioner Dick Conder.

Four commissioned officers are coordinating the response on the island, where the situation is currently calm.

All but one of the police officers living on the island has left, along with half the police who were flown to the island earlier this week.

Twenty police officers were inside the police station about 1pm (AEST) today when it was stormed by a mob of local residents, Queensland Police Service Commissioner Bob Atkinson said.

The police station, courthouse and the accommodation of the officer-in-charge were destroyed in the attack, while the police barracks were damaged.

About 80 police are currently on the island and more are expected tomorrow.

Food and provisions for the extra police will be flown in.

Mr Atkinson, who has travelled to Townsville, appealed for the community's elders to restore order and calm among the residents.

He said Mr Doomadgee's death "will be fully and thoroughly investigated" by the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

"The police department has no fear of that and we will cooperate fully with that investigation," Mr Atkinson said.

Mr Doomadgee, 36, died in police custody last Friday.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had four broken ribs and died from a ruptured liver.

Earlier today, Mr Atkinson said Mr Doomadgee's injuries resulted from a scuffle with police when he was being taken from a prison van.

Jail death spurs Palm Island riot
Date: 26/11/04
By Roberta Mancuso and Steve Connolly

Angry mobs burnt down buildings and threatened to kill police and media during a riot over a death in custody on troubled Palm Island, off the north Queensland coast.

Up to 300 residents of the Aboriginal community rampaged over the death of local man Cameron Doomadgee, torching the island's police station, lobbing petrol bombs at the police residential barracks and attacking other government-owned buildings.

Palm Island resident Nicky Bull said the situation was worse than during this year's Redfern riots in Sydney.

"The atmosphere is just anger amongst the residents here but it's very, very freaky here at the moment because a lot of those people are not used to seeing our people like this," she told ABC radio.

More than 100 police reinforcements were being flown from nearby Townsville, as well as Cairns and Brisbane while Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson called for calm.

Government and other workers locked themselves away from danger in the island's hospital, while others fled in fear for their lives.

Simmering tension erupted into violence with the release of the results of the post-mortem examination of Mr Doomadgee, 36, who died in police custody last Friday.

He was found to have four broken ribs and died from a ruptured liver.

Mr Atkinson said Mr Doomadgee's injuries resulted from a scuffle with police when he was being taken from a prison van.

"There was a scuffle and the police officer and the person who has died then fell to the ground on some concrete steps," he said.

"And it is my understanding that the injuries sustained by the deceased person were entirely consistent with that version of events.

"Now, having said that there still needs to be an inquiry of course and there will be a Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) investigation, a report to the coroner and a coronial inquest."

Mr Beattie said he was shocked at the damage on Palm Island and he appealed for calm.

"We're appealing for people to lead. We are prepared to work with the community but the leaders of Palm Island have got to take charge and act responsibly to restore some order," Mr Beattie said.

Mr Atkinson was flying to Townsville to assess what Mr Beattie described as a very serious situation.

Copyright © 2004 AAP

Island erupts after police death

November 27, 2004

POLICE took control of the airport, school and hospital on Palm Island yesterday after an emergency situation was declared in the wake of violent riots over a death in custody.

Some residents, contractors and public servants, including 22 teachers, were evacuated from the island as police from Townsville and Cairns were flown in to reinforce officer numbers.

Angry mobs today burned down buildings and threatened to kill police and media on the island, off the north Queensland coast.

Up to 300 members of the Aboriginal community rioted over the death of local man Cameron Doomadgee, torching the island's police station, lobbing petrol bombs at the police residential barracks and attacking other government-owned buildings.

Government and other workers locked themselves in the island's hospital, while others fled in fear for their lives.

An emergency situation was declared yesterday afternoon, allowing police to execute powers such as closing the airport, taking control of resources and buildings and closing roads.

The police response to the violence will be coordinated from major incident rooms in Brisbane and Townsville, under the command of Deputy Police Commissioner Dick Conder.

Four commissioned officers are coordinating the response on the island, where the situation is currently calm.

All but one of the police officers living on the island has left, along with half the police who were flown to the island earlier this week.

Twenty police officers were inside the police station about 1pm (AEST) yesterday when it was stormed by a mob of local residents, Queensland Police Service Commissioner Bob Atkinson said.

The police station, courthouse and the accommodation of the officer-in-charge were destroyed in the attack, while the police barracks were damaged.

About 80 police are currently on the island and more are expected later today.

Food and provisions for the extra police will be flown in.

Mr Atkinson, who has travelled to Townsville, appealed for the community's elders to restore order and calm among the residents.

He said Mr Doomadgee's death "will be fully and thoroughly investigated" by the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

"The police department has no fear of that and we will cooperate fully with that investigation," Mr Atkinson said.

Mr Doomadgee, 36, died in police custody last Friday.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had four broken ribs and died from a ruptured liver.

Yesterday, Mr Atkinson said Mr Doomadgee's injuries resulted from a scuffle with police when he was being taken from a prison van.

AAP

ISLANDERS FLEE RIOT
Report sparks island violence
Tanya Moore and Malcolm Cole
November 27, 2004

COMMUNITY leaders and police will begin talks this morning to lift a state of emergency placed on Palm Island northeast of Townsville after it was besieged by riots yesterday.

TROUBLE in the tropics . . . Palm Island resident Celeste Walsh with her son, William, arrive in Townsville after fleeing the strife.

Twenty police officers who had taken refuge in the island's hospital were safely released last night after police reinforcements were airlifted to the island.

Early yesterday, around 1000 people rioted. They burned down the police station, court house and the home of the officer-in-charge. Petrol bombs were lobbed at the police barracks and other government buildings were damaged.

Last night, a 150-passenger boat was standing by to evacuate nurses, teachers, contractors and residents from the island, which has a population of about 3000.

Simmering anger exploded into violence after a coroner's report revealed that Palm Island resident Cameron Doomadgee, 36, had suffered four broken ribs, a ruptured liver and a ruptured portal vein in a scuffle at the island's watchhouse.

Mr Doomadgee died in police custody about an hour after he was arrested for public drunkenness last Friday.

The coroner's report was read to a community meeting yesterday after it had been given to Mr Doomadgee's family late on Thursday.

Within a few hours a crowd of hundreds had gathered outside the police station.

By 3pm the station, barracks and station house were alight and all police were forced to flee to the hospital The officer who arrested Mr Doomadgee, Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley, left the island on Tuesday for his own safety.

Last night, about 80 police remained on the island but more were to be flown in today. The island has suffered a week of violence since Mr Doomadgee's death.

As the violence escalated, police declared an emergency situation under the Public Safety Preservation Act.

Police Minister Judy Spence said extra police were flown to the island throughout the day and at one stage there was an officer for every 30 residents. Police were flown in by an army Chinook helicopter from Townsville and a plane from Cairns.

"As those planes have come in with police officers, they have taken some people who wanted to be evacuated away," Ms Spence said.

Premier Peter Beattie urged Palm Island community leaders to "calm people down" and said the Crime and Misconduct Commission would fully investigate Mr Doomadgee's death.

Palm Island chairman Erykah Kyle said residents had voted on Tuesday to have Sen-Sgt Hurley removed from the island.

She said yesterday morning's meeting at which the coronial report was read was peaceful but those present were angry.

Palm Island resident and rioter Lex Wotton said locals first wanted a CMC investigation and then they wanted the Government to agree to move all police from the island.

Mr Wotton said residents had set fire to the police station because they had been "crying out for help" and no one had listened.

"A lot of our people, they get locked up and they can't go and complain to other people," he said.

Mr Wotton said residents did not believe the death was an accident and a witness had reported seeing Mr Doomadgee being bashed.

But the coronial report said the injuries were "consistent with the deceased and the policeman with whom he was known to have been struggling, falling on to a hard surface, such as steps outside the watchhouse".

Aboriginal Policy Minister Liddy Clark said the community would get the answers it wanted from the CMC inquiry Ms Clark said negotiations for an alcohol management plan on the island had been "long and difficult" because of a lack of consensus among the 40 clans there. A draft plan, which was to have been put to the communities next week, will now be put on hold until the crisis is over.

News.com.au, le 29 novembre 2004

Attacked police refuse to return to riot island
By Michael Madigan and Renee Viellaris
November 29, 2004

PALM Island 's eight police have refused to return to the riot-torn Aboriginal community off Townsville, sparking fears from the police union that it would be almost impossible to find replacements.

As a tense stand-off continued last night, Education Minister Anna Bligh confirmed children were unlikely to return to school until at least the end of the week, and might not go back until next year.

Premier Peter Beattie and Police Minister Judy Spence flew to the community yesterday morning to deliver a five-point peace plan to calm tempers ignited by the death on November 19 of islander Cameron Doomadgee.

The plan aimed to restore law and order, re-establish services, rebuild burnt-out infrastructure, finish an alcohol management plan and improve the governance skills of the council.

Palm Island chairwoman Erykah Kyle cautiously welcomed the plan but refused to apologise for the riot.

Queensland Police Union acting president Denis Fitzpatrick said some islanders had acted disgracefully and should be charged with attempted murder.

"Our members were near burnt to death when these people set fire to the (police) building and these people deserve only one place to be – that is brought to justice and placed in prison," he said.

"I have a clear indication from the members that they do not want to go back to their present positions, and I would envisage the police service will have considerable difficulty from here on in filling positions and providing this island with police."

Mr Fitzgerald said Commissioner Bob Atkinson had offered all Palm Island police the chance to transfer and "all of them put their hand up".

Riot squads were expected to remain in place at least until Mr Doomadgee's funeral on Thursday or Friday despite demands from Aborigines to be left alone.

Extra security was also being negotiated with court officials in Townsville ahead of the appearance today of 12 men facing charges including arson, serious assault and riot.

An appeal was meanwhile launched for police who lost possessions when their barracks burned down, including Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley who was involved in the scuffle which led to Mr Doomadgee's death.

Sen-Sgt Hurley, who served on the island for two years and previously served for two years in the Cape York Aboriginal community of Aurukun, left the island last week and was believed to be on leave.

Coroner Michael Barnes released a statement on Friday which said Mr Doomadgee had four broken ribs and a punctured liver, which was consistent with falling on concrete steps during the scuffle.

However Cr Kyle said she had seen the full autopsy report and it mentioned that heavy pressure or a weight might have been placed on his chest.

Cr Kyle and other Aboriginal leaders accused police, who stormed several homes in riot gear throughout the weekend to arrest riot leaders, of treating the island like a terrorist enclave.

Mr Beattie said he was deeply disappointed at the outbreak of violence and the destruction of government property, and vowed to rebuild as quickly as possible.

"This (the peace plan) has been a circuit-breaker. Today we start to rebuild," he said.

Two CMC staff were on Palm Island when the riots broke out, retreating to Townsville on Friday, and would return when it was safe.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Amanda Vanstone had not seen the five-point plan last night, but her spokesman said the problems on Palm Island should be solved by the State Government. "She hopes that most people take a cautious approach to what's going on," the spokesman said.

A police spokeswoman said whenever there was a death in custody it was initially investigated by the ethical standards command and then handed over to the CMC.

The Courier-Mail

The World News, le 29 novembre 2004

PALM ISLAND RIOTERS IN COURT
29.11.2004. 12:56:07

Eighteen people are due to appear before Townsville’s Magistrates Court today after about 300 locals rioted at Palm Island’s police station on November 26.

They face charges ranging from arson, serious assault of police and rioting with intent to cause damage to property.

On Sunday 12 people had been charged but police said several more arrests were made overnight, including two 18-year-old men and a 20-year-old man, all charged with burglary.

A 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man are also being interviewed by police.

Tensions remain high on the island, located just off Townsville on Queensland ’s far north coast, following the death in custody of Cameroon Doomadgee, 36, on November 19.

Anger in the local Aboriginal community spilled over after the release of a post-mortem report three days ago which found Mr Doomadgee had four broken ribs and a punctured liver when he died.
A police station, barracks and police houses were torched after residents heard about an autopsy report which said 36-year-old Palm Islander Cameron Doomadgee died from a ruptured liver, while also having four broken ribs and a punctured lung.

According to a report by the Courier Mail newspaper, Coroner Michael Barnes found Mr Doomadgee’s injuries were consistent with a fall on concrete steps said to have occurred during a scuffle as Mr Doomadgee was being lead from a police paddy wagon to the island’s watch-house.

He had been arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

However, Palm Island ’s chairwoman Erykah Kyle said she had seen the full autopsy report and that it mentioned heavy pressure or a weight might have been placed on his chest.

The Queensland Premier Peter Beattie flew to Palm Island yesterday, accompanied by Police Minister Judy Spence, in a bid to restore calm.

He brought with him a five-point plan containing measures for restoring law and order, re-establishing grief counselling and mediation, as well as construction of a new police station to replace the one torched during Friday’s riot.

Mr Beattie has also called for an alcohol management plan to be drawn up and put in place by the start of next year.

One local who attended the meeting with the premier described the talks as ‘positive’ on the whole.

“Our only concern with Beattie’s five-point plan was that it was a government imposing a system on us rather than a problem being devised from the community up,” said the man who did not wish to be identified.

Mr Beattie’s plan was met with an open letter from the Aboriginal community saying it was inexcusable Mr Doomadgee had been left unattended in the watch-house until it was too late, and that “the government and the police must accept blame for the current situation.”

A complaint was also made about state of emergency which has been imposed on Palm Island , with 80 armed police reinforcements called in by Premier Beattie.

“Our children are being terrorised; 80 police are not necessary,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, Queensland ’s Police Union has demanded that the charges against those accused of firebombing Palm Island ’s police station be upgraded to attempted murder.

“Our members were near burnt to death when these people set fire to the building and these people deserve only one place to be – that is brought to justice and placed in prison,” Queensland Police Union acting president Denis said.

According to a report by the Courier Mail, riot police are expected to remain on the island at least until December 3 or 4, when the funeral for Mr Doomadgee is likely to be held.

Civil libertarians are pressing for a second opinion on the death.

Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman said a preliminary report was insufficient to address the underlying causes for last Friday's riot.

"We'll be urging the Palm Island Community Council today to take urgent steps to obtain a second post mortem opinion from a pathologist outside the state," Mr O'Gorman said.

SOURCE: World News

Second autopsy ordered on Islander

© Queensland Newspapers

Michael Madigan and Renee Viellaris
30nov04

A SECOND autopsy will be performed on the body of Palm Islander Cameron Doomadgee, whose death in police custody led to riots on the island last Friday.

The State Coroner's office confirmed the decision in response to the violence, as new facts were revealed about the level of force used against the rioters.

Armed special emergency response team officers surrounded Townsville courthouse yesterday as it was confirmed police used paralysing electric shock weapons on rioters, and children claimed they had guns pointed at their heads.

Crowds of protesters gathered to demand answers about the death of Doomadgee, 36, in custody, as 18 alleged rioters appeared in the court.

The men were variously charged with burglary, arson, serious assault, riot, riot causing damage, unlawful assembly, wilful damage, going armed to cause fear, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and possession of a drug utensil.

The first autopsy on Doomadgee found he had died with four broken ribs and a ruptured liver sustained in a struggle with a police officer.

"Given the sensitivities around the man's death, and (the fact) that medical evidence will be crucial to establishing how the man died, it is important that I have a second opinion," State Coroner Michael Barnes said in a statement yesterday.

"A senior forensic pathologist from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine will come to Queensland to undertake this autopsy."

The Doomadgee family has been invited to nominate a pathologist to attend.

"It is important the family receives advice from someone they trust and can speak with confidentially," Mr Barnes said.

Police and the Beattie Government yesterday defended the level of force being used to deal with unrest on the island.

Electric stun guns, known as tasers, were used on at least three people during the riot, Police Minister Judy Spence confirmed.

Police claim at least one high-powered weapon was stolen from the police station and believe it may have been handed around the island like a trophy. The Ruger .223 needs special ammunition, which was unlikely to be found on the island.

Mr Beattie also defended claims that riot police held children at gunpoint.

"I don't expect police to deal with these matters with one hand tied behind their back," Mr Beattie said after meeting island leaders. "There needs to be an appropriate response where people are concerned for their lives.

"This is a backdrop of a riot; there wasn't a Sunday picnic going on, and police obviously had to take action," he said.

Aboriginal leaders yesterday demanded counselling for the children involved.

Brad Foster, a Carpentaria Land Council official brought in by the Palm Island Council to help restore calm, called for an inquiry into the incident.

"There were a lot of kids that were involved at the time when those stormtroopers came in, pointing guns directly at kids, making them lie on the ground," he said.

The mother of a man arrested on Saturday morning said her son had his head pushed against the floor of his home, despite the fact he was recovering from a broken jaw.

"He was crying out 'don't push, I've got a broken jaw', but they kept on pushing on the side of his head," said Rosina Norman, a Palm Island councillor.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson visited the island yesterday to look for new police accommodation – the barracks was burnt down along with the police station, station house and courthouse.

The island's eight-strong police force has refused to return, but officers will be rotated to maintain order.

"If that means rotating police around on Palm Island until we can have officers come forward and volunteer, then that is what we will do," Ms Spence said.

Ms Spence said the riot police in Townsville were "ready for use" if tensions flared again.

Victim 'broke ribs in car crash'
By Michael Madigan and Ryan Heffernan
December 1, 2004

POLICE are investigating claims that Cameron Doomadgee, whose death in police custody sparked last weekend's Palm Island riots, was hit by a car two days before his death and broke two ribs.

Doomadgee, 36, died with four broken ribs and a ruptured liver in the Palm Island watchhouse on November 19 after a struggle with arresting officer Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley.

The alleged car accident was not reported to police or medical staff on the island, but The Courier-Mail has learned police are investigating the claim, which has the potential to become crucial evidence in an eventual inquest into Doomadgee's death.

His family have denied any knowledge of an accident.

A second autopsy was performed on his body yesterday afternoon. The family said they were still waiting for results late yesterday.

State Coroner Michael Barnes said last night the results may not be available for another week.

"I think both the pathologists involved need to see more information and do more tests," Mr Barnes said.

Mr Barnes said he did not intend to release the findings of the second autopsy.

"The last time the results were given to the family and they talked to other people about it."

In some cases those results had been misconstrued or deliberately distorted, Mr Barnes said. There was no reason to think that would not occur again, he said.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said only police could say if ambulance officers had been called to treat Doomadgee at the watchhouse, and police have declined to comment until a Crime and Misconduct Commission probe is complete.

Aboriginal elders and police fear more violence on Palm Island as demands for the release of 20 men charged over the riots grow.

The dead man's sister, Elizabeth, said a church funeral would be held next Thursday and the family wanted the men present, , a call echoed by the island's community council.

"I want those boys back here," Ms Doomadgee said.

Aboriginal activist and Doomadgee's cousin Murandoo Yanner warned yesterday police would die unless charges were dropped against the alleged rioters.

"When someone's killed, someone must be killed in return," he said from Burketown. "If this policeman isn't punished, jailed or charged with murder, under the law, if you can't get one policeman, you get another."

Police are seeking legal advice on Mr Yanner's statements, but have declined to comment on any expansion of police numbers on the island.

Premier Peter Beattie has ruled out community-based punishment if the accused are found guilty, despite a traditional court on the island.

Mr Beattie promised to release the CMC report on the death and asked for calm while the investigation was carried out.

Palm Island Council chairwoman Erykah Kyle said the community understood the medical cause of Doomadgee's death, but wanted more answers.

"The question that we want answered is how pressure was applied, which resulted in that rupturing and bleeding," she said.

She said there was some evidence in the first autopsy that Doomadgee had shown signs of distress, which should have been picked up by police.

Mr Beattie, who had previously defended police tactics in the riot as "appropriate", said yesterday the Palm Islanders should be given latitude during their mourning period.

"As long as they don't break the law," he said.

Police have been asked to stay away from the funeral.

- Additional reporting Tanya Moore and Renee Viellaris

The Courier-Mail

Police centre attacked in Palm Island

By Jason Gregory

28mar05

TENSIONS between Palm Island locals and police continue after attacks on the police compound again yesterday – the fifth time officers have been targeted in a month.

About 9.30pm on Saturday an old mop was set alight and thrown at the police station; then, early yesterday, eight large stones were thrown against the walls of the barracks where officers were sleeping.

Palm Island Council chairwoman Erykah Kyle said the community was unsettled and facing enormous problems, but the island's police, increased after last years riots, were not showing great enthusiasm to fix the issues.

She said the weekend incidents probably sprang from local frustrations since a CMC investigation found Premier Peter Beattie had not tried to bribe the Palm Island Council.

No police were injured and no local residents have so far been questioned in relation to the weekend incidents.

Tensions have been at fever pitch between the residents of Palm Island, off the coast of Townsville, and police since the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee last November. His death sparked a riot in which the police station was burnt down.

Earlier this month Police Minister Judy Spence said Palm Island was "a dysfunctional community which is lacking in leadership" and admitted relations between locals and police had broken down.

The CMC found Mr Beattie's conduct over an $800,000 offer to the island council was not criminal or corrupt, contrary to the advice of a senior lawyer it commissioned.

"The police do not seem alarmed about these incidents . . . they are just sitting there and doing nothing and waiting for something big, wild and violent to happen," said Ms Kyle, who is in Brisbane for legal hearings relating to the Doomadgee incident.

"I have been meeting with senior police for some time now and there does not seem to be anything in place."