Palm Island witnesses back mirror evidence
10.03.2010
By: TONY KOCH
TWO witnesses familiar with the Palm Island police lock-up, where Mulrunji Doomadgee died, yesterday supported evidence that the scene of his alleged assault had been visible through a mirror.
Appearing at a new inquest into the death in custody of Doomadgee, the witnesses backed testimony by local man Roy Bramwell of the existence of the mirror, which he said had allowed him to see police Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley punch and knee the Palm Islander.
Mr Bramwell, who was in the watch-house when Doomadgee was brought in on November 19, 2004, gave several interviews immediately after his death but did not mention the mirror until he was questioned by Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission nearly two years later.
In response to questioning from counsel assisting Coroner Brian Hine, Ralph Devlin SC, Mr Bramwell said he had not said anything earlier about the mirror because he had been threatened the day after Doomadgee's death by Palm Island detective Darren Robinson if he disclosed details of what he saw in the station.
Mr Bramwell yesterday quoted Detective Robinson as telling him: ``He (Hurley) is a good friend. He is not that type of man. If anything happens to my friend Chris Hurley, I will come looking for you.''
Mr Bramwell told the inquest: ``I was frightened of what he said to me.''
Under cross-examination by Sergeant Hurley's counsel, Steve Zillman, Mr Bramwell said he had consumed 40 cans of full-strength beer in the 24 hours leading up to his arrest.
Mr Bramwell admitted yesterday he had had ``about the same amount'' over the following 24 hours -- before he was spoken to by Detective Robinson.
Palm Island man Vince Thimble told the inquest he was a community police officer on Palm Island between 1988 and 1994 and then worked as an ambulance officer on the island until 1998.
Mr Thimble said the mirror was on the wall near the rear entrance to the police station and was used by police to see who was moving in the corridor outside the three cells.
Career criminal Lance Poynter said he had been to the Palm Island police station on numerous occasions and remembered two mirrors.
Mr Devlin said he had been informed that police who had worked at the Palm Island station before the 2004 fire would today provide evidence that there was not a mirror on the wall.
The coronial inquest moves to Townsville today to hear evidence from police, including Sergeant Hurley.
