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Indigenous advocacy group asks to join inquest into Ms Dhu death in custody Advocacy group asks to join inquest into Ms Dhu death in custody
(34 minutes later)
An advocacy group that has campaigned for Western Australia to end its practice of jailing people as a way to pay off court fines has applied to sit in on the inquest into the death of Ms Dhu, an Indigenous woman who died in a police cell while serving time for unpaid fines.An advocacy group that has campaigned for Western Australia to end its practice of jailing people as a way to pay off court fines has applied to sit in on the inquest into the death of Ms Dhu, an Indigenous woman who died in a police cell while serving time for unpaid fines.
Dhu, a 22-year-old Yamatji woman whose first name is not used at the request of her family, was pronounced dead at South Hedland health campus on 4 August 2014 after being found unresponsive in a cell at the police station.Dhu, a 22-year-old Yamatji woman whose first name is not used at the request of her family, was pronounced dead at South Hedland health campus on 4 August 2014 after being found unresponsive in a cell at the police station.
Related: Aboriginal man's death in custody in Northern Territory prompts scrutinyRelated: Aboriginal man's death in custody in Northern Territory prompts scrutiny
She had been locked up three days earlier to clear $1,000 in unpaid fines with time served, a common process in WA, and had been taken to hospital twice during that period after complaining of severe stomach pains.She had been locked up three days earlier to clear $1,000 in unpaid fines with time served, a common process in WA, and had been taken to hospital twice during that period after complaining of severe stomach pains.
The inquest, which was announced a few days after the anniversary of her death, will be held in the Pilbara town between 23 November and 4 December. On Thursday, the Death In Custody Action Watch Committee of WA applied to the coroner’s office to be granted the status of an interested person at the inquest.The inquest, which was announced a few days after the anniversary of her death, will be held in the Pilbara town between 23 November and 4 December. On Thursday, the Death In Custody Action Watch Committee of WA applied to the coroner’s office to be granted the status of an interested person at the inquest.
Under the Coroners Act (WA) 1996, other parties may apply to appear as an “interested person” at an inquest, which would give them the right to have their lawyer examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to make submissions before the coroner makes any findings adverse to their interests.Under the Coroners Act (WA) 1996, other parties may apply to appear as an “interested person” at an inquest, which would give them the right to have their lawyer examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to make submissions before the coroner makes any findings adverse to their interests.
Two nurses and the WA Country Health Service will be represented at the inquest by separate lawyers, and the Aboriginal Legal Service is appearing on behalf of Dhu’s family.Two nurses and the WA Country Health Service will be represented at the inquest by separate lawyers, and the Aboriginal Legal Service is appearing on behalf of Dhu’s family.
Kelly Somers, a spokeswoman for the Deaths In Custody Watch Committee of WA, told Guardian Australia the application was made to allow the group to steer the coroner towards systemic issues in police custody that may have had a bearing on Dhu’s death.Kelly Somers, a spokeswoman for the Deaths In Custody Watch Committee of WA, told Guardian Australia the application was made to allow the group to steer the coroner towards systemic issues in police custody that may have had a bearing on Dhu’s death.
They are also hoping to ensure the coroner considers any impact policies such as the jailing of people to recoup fines might have had on Dhu’s and other deaths.They are also hoping to ensure the coroner considers any impact policies such as the jailing of people to recoup fines might have had on Dhu’s and other deaths.
The application was put before the state coroner, Ros Fogliani, at the central law courts in Perth on Friday, and a decision is expected by the time the matter is in court on 6 November.The application was put before the state coroner, Ros Fogliani, at the central law courts in Perth on Friday, and a decision is expected by the time the matter is in court on 6 November.
In the same court appearance on Friday, Fogliani confirmed an inquest into another Indigenous death in custody would be held in Broome.In the same court appearance on Friday, Fogliani confirmed an inquest into another Indigenous death in custody would be held in Broome.
Maureen Mandijarra, a 44-year-old Indigenous woman, died in the cells of Broome police station on 30 November 2012, after being picked up by police for being drunk in public. She was only supposed to spend the night in lock-up and was found dead by the police officer who went to discharge her the next morning.Maureen Mandijarra, a 44-year-old Indigenous woman, died in the cells of Broome police station on 30 November 2012, after being picked up by police for being drunk in public. She was only supposed to spend the night in lock-up and was found dead by the police officer who went to discharge her the next morning.
The inquest into Mandijarra’s death was announced last month, 34 months after her death, and will run from 22 to 26 February 2016.The inquest into Mandijarra’s death was announced last month, 34 months after her death, and will run from 22 to 26 February 2016.
There are three more Indigenous deaths in custody awaiting inquest dates in WA, all of which were men who apparently committed suicide in Casurina prison, 30km south of Perth. They are Jayden Stafford Bennell, 20, who died on 6 March 2013; Aubrey Wallam, 31, who died on 22 October 2014; and Mervyn Bell, 28, who died on 8 September 2015.There are three more Indigenous deaths in custody awaiting inquest dates in WA, all of which were men who apparently committed suicide in Casurina prison, 30km south of Perth. They are Jayden Stafford Bennell, 20, who died on 6 March 2013; Aubrey Wallam, 31, who died on 22 October 2014; and Mervyn Bell, 28, who died on 8 September 2015.
Indigenous people make up 40% of people jailed or held on remand in WA, despite being only 3.5% of the population.Indigenous people make up 40% of people jailed or held on remand in WA, despite being only 3.5% of the population.
In June, the premier, Colin Barnett, who made a public pledge to Dhu’s mother last year to reduce the number of Indigenous people in custody, announced plans for a 24/7 telephone custody notification system. That announcement was welcomed by both the Death in Custody Action Watch Committee and the Aboriginal Legal Service, but both said more could be done.In June, the premier, Colin Barnett, who made a public pledge to Dhu’s mother last year to reduce the number of Indigenous people in custody, announced plans for a 24/7 telephone custody notification system. That announcement was welcomed by both the Death in Custody Action Watch Committee and the Aboriginal Legal Service, but both said more could be done.