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| Indigenous prisoner dies in South Australia after altercation left him braindead | |
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| An Indigenous man has died after an apparent altercation involving prison guards at a South Australian jail. | An Indigenous man has died after an apparent altercation involving prison guards at a South Australian jail. |
| Police say the 29-year-old man, known only as Mr Morrison for cultural reasons, died early on Monday morning at the Royal Adelaide hospital where he had been in a serious condition since Friday. | Police say the 29-year-old man, known only as Mr Morrison for cultural reasons, died early on Monday morning at the Royal Adelaide hospital where he had been in a serious condition since Friday. |
| It was alleged the man was involved in an altercation with five guards at the Yatala labour prison on Friday while waiting for a scheduled court video link appearance, correctional services minister Peter Malinauskas said. | It was alleged the man was involved in an altercation with five guards at the Yatala labour prison on Friday while waiting for a scheduled court video link appearance, correctional services minister Peter Malinauskas said. |
| It is understood Morrison was then taken back to the maximum security area of the prison, when he suffered a medical episode, believed to be a cardiac arrest. | It is understood Morrison was then taken back to the maximum security area of the prison, when he suffered a medical episode, believed to be a cardiac arrest. |
| The man’s sister Latoya Rule disputed the allegation, saying her brother, who was barely 1.5m tall, “was a nonviolent fisherman and artist”. | The man’s sister Latoya Rule disputed the allegation, saying her brother, who was barely 1.5m tall, “was a nonviolent fisherman and artist”. |
| Rule said her brother had been denied medical attention in custody, telling Nine News Adelaide that he was “quite dehydrated, wanted medical attention, medical care”. That has not been confirmed by authorities. | Rule said her brother had been denied medical attention in custody, telling Nine News Adelaide that he was “quite dehydrated, wanted medical attention, medical care”. That has not been confirmed by authorities. |
| Morrison’s family said he had been misrepresented in the media, saying he had never been to jail before being taken to Yatala prison on 17 September. | Morrison’s family said he had been misrepresented in the media, saying he had never been to jail before being taken to Yatala prison on 17 September. |
| Major crime detectives are investigating the incident and police are also preparing a report for the coroner. | Major crime detectives are investigating the incident and police are also preparing a report for the coroner. |
| Malinauskas said he had not been advised of the exact cause of the man’s death. But he said he had “100% confidence” SA police investigators would do everything they could to find out exactly what happened. | Malinauskas said he had not been advised of the exact cause of the man’s death. But he said he had “100% confidence” SA police investigators would do everything they could to find out exactly what happened. |
| “I have already been advised by the police commissioner that Sapol are putting substantial resources into this so we do find out exactly what did take place,” he told ABC radio on Monday. | “I have already been advised by the police commissioner that Sapol are putting substantial resources into this so we do find out exactly what did take place,” he told ABC radio on Monday. |
| “I as much as anybody am very keen to make sure that we do that, so that if people have acted in a way that isn’t appropriate they can be held to account, and we can do everything we can to make sure we don’t see deaths like this into the future.” | “I as much as anybody am very keen to make sure that we do that, so that if people have acted in a way that isn’t appropriate they can be held to account, and we can do everything we can to make sure we don’t see deaths like this into the future.” |
| He said two of the five prison guards involved in the incident suffered serious injuries, including facial fractures, but all had since been discharged from hospital. | He said two of the five prison guards involved in the incident suffered serious injuries, including facial fractures, but all had since been discharged from hospital. |
| “I do, no doubt, feel for them in the fact that they are going to be subject to an enormous amount of scrutiny, as is appropriate, so let’s just wait and see what the outcome of these investigations are,” he said. | “I do, no doubt, feel for them in the fact that they are going to be subject to an enormous amount of scrutiny, as is appropriate, so let’s just wait and see what the outcome of these investigations are,” he said. |
| He said there was no information suggesting that overcrowding at the prison contributed to the violent incident. | He said there was no information suggesting that overcrowding at the prison contributed to the violent incident. |
| The South Australian Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement deputy chair, Tauto Sansbury, said the man’s family and his group had been kept “completely in the dark” over key details. | The South Australian Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement deputy chair, Tauto Sansbury, said the man’s family and his group had been kept “completely in the dark” over key details. |
| “The family has been basically locked out of seeing the young lad, at the first instance when he was at the hospital,” he told ABC radio. | “The family has been basically locked out of seeing the young lad, at the first instance when he was at the hospital,” he told ABC radio. |
| Malinauskas said no information was being covered up to protect people. | Malinauskas said no information was being covered up to protect people. |
| “I completely reject any suggestion that somehow there is a conspiracy to cover up or not disclose information here,” he said. | “I completely reject any suggestion that somehow there is a conspiracy to cover up or not disclose information here,” he said. |
| The Department of Corrections chief executive, David Brown, said the death would also be subject to a coronial inquiry. | The Department of Corrections chief executive, David Brown, said the death would also be subject to a coronial inquiry. |
| “I want to reiterate that any death in custody is of deep concern and I again want to extend my condolences to the family of the deceased,” Brown said in a statement on Thursday. | “I want to reiterate that any death in custody is of deep concern and I again want to extend my condolences to the family of the deceased,” Brown said in a statement on Thursday. |
| On Monday Rule said she was “broken” by her brother’s death. | On Monday Rule said she was “broken” by her brother’s death. |
| “We said goodbye to my brother early this morning,” she posted on Facebook. “I walked from the hospital to the steps of parliament and just sat there all morning till the sun came up... | “We said goodbye to my brother early this morning,” she posted on Facebook. “I walked from the hospital to the steps of parliament and just sat there all morning till the sun came up... |
| “I though [sic] that maybe I had the courage to stay until Jay Weatherill came out and could ask for justice...but I just ended up breaking down. | “I though [sic] that maybe I had the courage to stay until Jay Weatherill came out and could ask for justice...but I just ended up breaking down. |
| “I can’t be strong. I am broken. We are broken. | “I can’t be strong. I am broken. We are broken. |