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| David Dungay Jr death in custody: family rally in Sydney to demand answers | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The family of an Indigenous man who died in custody have rallied outside the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services building in Sydney to demand answers about his death. | The family of an Indigenous man who died in custody have rallied outside the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services building in Sydney to demand answers about his death. |
| David Dungay Jr, 26, died while being treated for a medical condition at Long Bay prison on 29 December 2015. His family said he was due to be released on parole three weeks later. | David Dungay Jr, 26, died while being treated for a medical condition at Long Bay prison on 29 December 2015. His family said he was due to be released on parole three weeks later. |
| The Dunghutti man from Kempsey was reportedly being restrained by several guards around the time of his death. | The Dunghutti man from Kempsey was reportedly being restrained by several guards around the time of his death. |
| Police said Dungay’s death was not suspicious, and an investigation conducted by the Corrective Services investigation unit found no criminal negligence. | Police said Dungay’s death was not suspicious, and an investigation conducted by the Corrective Services investigation unit found no criminal negligence. |
| But Dungay’s family do not accept that finding, and are demanding answers from Corrective Services as to the cause and circumstances of his death. | But Dungay’s family do not accept that finding, and are demanding answers from Corrective Services as to the cause and circumstances of his death. |
| On Thursday morning, Dungay’s mother, Leetona Dungay, gave a tearful address to a crowd of dozens outside Central Station in Sydney near the Department of Corrective Services on Lee Street. | On Thursday morning, Dungay’s mother, Leetona Dungay, gave a tearful address to a crowd of dozens outside Central Station in Sydney near the Department of Corrective Services on Lee Street. |
| “It is hard to believe that today in Australia that this type of thing is still happening but I stand here before you as the mother of a son who was taken away from me when he was still just a kid.” | “It is hard to believe that today in Australia that this type of thing is still happening but I stand here before you as the mother of a son who was taken away from me when he was still just a kid.” |
| Dungay said her son, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of six, died in the prison hospital after he was prevented from eating a biscuit for his blood sugar levels. | Dungay said her son, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of six, died in the prison hospital after he was prevented from eating a biscuit for his blood sugar levels. |
| “In prison they just don’t look after you properly,” she said. “The officers knew that day that Junior was diabetic.” | “In prison they just don’t look after you properly,” she said. “The officers knew that day that Junior was diabetic.” |
| Leetona Dungay said David was “overpowered” and “restrained” by several officers. | Leetona Dungay said David was “overpowered” and “restrained” by several officers. |
| “Why is this happening? Why is this happening in Australia today? Why are we locking up our proud young Aboriginal men in prison? How many of them need to die? This is 2016, not 1816 or 1916. We need to get angry.” | “Why is this happening? Why is this happening in Australia today? Why are we locking up our proud young Aboriginal men in prison? How many of them need to die? This is 2016, not 1816 or 1916. We need to get angry.” |
| Dungay’s death has been referred to the NSW coroner for a public inquest. | Dungay’s death has been referred to the NSW coroner for a public inquest. |
| The Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA), which organised the protest with the Dungay family, is calling for the guards involved in Dungay’s death to be stood down and for the coronial inquest to start as soon as possible. | The Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA), which organised the protest with the Dungay family, is calling for the guards involved in Dungay’s death to be stood down and for the coronial inquest to start as soon as possible. |
| Inquests into deaths in custody are mandatory, but may not be held for 12 to 18 months following the date of death. A spokeswoman for the statecoroner told Guardian Australia the matter of Dungay’s death was still under review and no inquest date had yet been set. | Inquests into deaths in custody are mandatory, but may not be held for 12 to 18 months following the date of death. A spokeswoman for the statecoroner told Guardian Australia the matter of Dungay’s death was still under review and no inquest date had yet been set. |
| Ken Canning, an Indigenous rights activist with ISJA, said Dungay had said he could not breathe when he was being restrained by officers. | Ken Canning, an Indigenous rights activist with ISJA, said Dungay had said he could not breathe when he was being restrained by officers. |
| He called for video footage of Dungay’s death to be made public, as it was in the case of Ms Dhu in Perth last week. | He called for video footage of Dungay’s death to be made public, as it was in the case of Ms Dhu in Perth last week. |
| Many people in the crowd were members of Dungay’s family and wearing shirts with his photo on them. | Many people in the crowd were members of Dungay’s family and wearing shirts with his photo on them. |
| “My auntie stands here with no son,” said Elizabeth Jarrett, his sister. “My baby stands here with no uncle. Do you see what you are doing, Australia? Cease hostility against my people.” | “My auntie stands here with no son,” said Elizabeth Jarrett, his sister. “My baby stands here with no uncle. Do you see what you are doing, Australia? Cease hostility against my people.” |
| The group was met by about eight police officers outside the Corrective Services building, before marching to The Block in Redfern. | The group was met by about eight police officers outside the Corrective Services building, before marching to The Block in Redfern. |
| A spokeswoman for Corrective Services told Guardian Australia the department respected the right to peaceful protest but could not comment as the matter had been referred to the coroner. | A spokeswoman for Corrective Services told Guardian Australia the department respected the right to peaceful protest but could not comment as the matter had been referred to the coroner. |
| ISJA and Dungay’s family intend to hold another rally against Aboriginal deaths in custody outside the Sydney Town Hall on 29 December. | ISJA and Dungay’s family intend to hold another rally against Aboriginal deaths in custody outside the Sydney Town Hall on 29 December. |