Most would like to find out what really happened but none -...

Most would like to find out what really happened but none - except the radical blacks - think the riot was a good thing for relations.

most feel that the men should not go to the funeral, should face white mans justice and if the white mans $ is good enough to take then there are strings attached

This item is now getting alot of air time

Victim 'broke ribs in car crash'
By Michael Madigan and Ryan Heffernan
December 1, 2004

POLICE are investigating claims that Cameron Doomadgee, whose death in police custody sparked last weekend's Palm Island riots, was hit by a car two days before his death and broke two ribs.

Doomadgee, 36, died with four broken ribs and a ruptured liver in the Palm Island watchhouse on November 19 after a struggle with arresting officer Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley.

The alleged car accident was not reported to police or medical staff on the island, but The Courier-Mail has learned police are investigating the claim, which has the potential to become crucial evidence in an eventual inquest into Doomadgee's death.

His family have denied any knowledge of an accident.

A second autopsy was performed on his body yesterday afternoon. The family said they were still waiting for results late yesterday.


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State Coroner Michael Barnes said last night the results may not be available for another week.

"I think both the pathologists involved need to see more information and do more tests," Mr Barnes said.

Mr Barnes said he did not intend to release the findings of the second autopsy.

"The last time the results were given to the family and they talked to other people about it."

In some cases those results had been misconstrued or deliberately distorted, Mr Barnes said. There was no reason to think that would not occur again, he said.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said only police could say if ambulance officers had been called to treat Doomadgee at the watchhouse, and police have declined to comment until a Crime and Misconduct Commission probe is complete.

Aboriginal elders and police fear more violence on Palm Island as demands for the release of 20 men charged over the riots grow.

The dead man's sister, Elizabeth, said a church funeral would be held next Thursday and the family wanted the men present, , a call echoed by the island's community council.

"I want those boys back here," Ms Doomadgee said.

Aboriginal activist and Doomadgee's cousin Murandoo Yanner warned yesterday police would die unless charges were dropped against the alleged rioters.

"When someone's killed, someone must be killed in return," he said from Burketown. "If this policeman isn't punished, jailed or charged with murder, under the law, if you can't get one policeman, you get another."

Police are seeking legal advice on Mr Yanner's statements, but have declined to comment on any expansion of police numbers on the island.

Premier Peter Beattie has ruled out community-based punishment if the accused are found guilty, despite a traditional court on the island.

Mr Beattie promised to release the CMC report on the death and asked for calm while the investigation was carried out.

Palm Island Council chairwoman Erykah Kyle said the community understood the medical cause of Doomadgee's death, but wanted more answers.

"The question that we want answered is how pressure was applied, which resulted in that rupturing and bleeding," she said.

She said there was some evidence in the first autopsy that Doomadgee had shown signs of distress, which should have been picked up by police.

Mr Beattie, who had previously defended police tactics in the riot as "appropriate", said yesterday the Palm Islanders should be given latitude during their mourning period.

"As long as they don't break the law," he said.

Police have been asked to stay away from the funeral.