The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) extends our deepest sympathies to the family and community of the young man who tragically lost his life during a police response in Mareeba.ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy said, “Our legal team are working with the family of the deceased and are providing legal assistance and advice in relation to the investigation.”
“This is yet another tragic loss of life, and a fate all too often experienced by Aboriginal people when coming into contact with police or reaching out to police for help. “You would have to ask what de-escalating responses were attempted by the police prior to the fatal action taken? These tragic outcomes due to lethal force undermine confidence in the police and community safety.”
“The Crime and Corruption Commission will be providing independent oversight of the Police Ethical Standards Command investigation. Once again we reiterate, police should not be investigating police,” Mr. Duffy said.
It has been over 30 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) handed down its 339 recommendations. Tragically there is a broken record of over five hundred Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody recorded since this time.
