May 06, 2010

Police may face charges over Doomadgee death: reports

ABC.net.au

Cameron Doomadgee (left) died in the Palm Island watch-house in  2004.

Cameron Doomadgee (left) died in the Palm
Island watch-house in 2004.


Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) will not confirm reports police officers will face disciplinary action over an investigation into a death in custody on Palm Island.

The CMC says it will release its report into Cameron Doomadgee's death after Deputy Chief Magistrate Brian Hine hands down his findings of a third coronial inquiry next Friday.

Mr Doomadgee, 36, died in the Palm Island watch-house in 2004. He died from massive internal injuries after being arrested.

A CMC spokeswoman would not confirm newspaper reports that the CMC found police protected other officers from blame in a deeply flawed investigation and that some senior officers will face disciplinary action.

She says the CMC has only just received responses from the people involved in the investigation.

The Queensland Police Service says it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage.

The union which represents senior Queensland police officers says it will not try to stop the release of the report.

The Queensland Police Commissioned Officers Union (QPCOU) says it has read the draft report from the CMC.

QPCOU president Tony Cross says he asked to see the report to help any members who could face disciplinary charges.

He would not confirm the findings, although newspaper reports say Ethical Standards Command officers were accused of running a biased investigation to protect other police.

It is also alleged two senior officers handpicked by Commissioner Bob Atkinson to review the investigation will face disciplinary charges.

The CMC says the report will be released within the month.