Not guilty
Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley escapes scot free
Another victory for police brutality as the man who cleft Mulrunji Doomadgee’s liver in twain is found not guilty of manslaughter and assault.
Justice Dutney said the jury must decide whether or not the injuries had occurred before or after the fall, and whether or not Hurley had lied in his accounts of the incident.
Hurley initially told investigating police he fell beside Mr Doomadgee.
But in testimony to the court last week the policeman conceded he “must have” landed on top of Mr Doomadgee.
Justice Dutney said if the jury decided Hurley intentionally injured Mr Doomadgee they needed to decide whether “a reasonable person” would have considered his actions could result in the 36-year-old Aboriginal man’s death.
If bashing people to death is standard police procedure, then you’ll excuse me if I keep my distance from them. Oh wait, I forgot: I’m white. No need to worry.
Senior Sergeant Hurley, I hope dreams of Mr Doomadgee haunt you for the rest of your life.
June 20, 2007 5:14 pm 4 Comments
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By Nicole
, June 20, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
The decision could hardly have gone another way, given the lack of evidence to prove malicious intent.
By shaved
, June 20, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Justice has been done! Thank god a jury agreed with Leanne Claire, pitty Peter perfect Beattie and his interfering government didn’t listen to the best informed person to make that decision instead of their kellogs box law degrees that allowed them to waste more taxpayers money on a trial that should never have happened!
By stu
, June 20, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
I never expected any other decision – I would note that a convenient number of people were in the next room when the incident occured. Sgt Hurley’s changing story also didn’t help my opinion of the case.
I’m not suggesting that Chris Hurley was guilty – I’m not in a position to know that. I would think however, that there must be something wrong with the system when a man can be killed as part of normal police procedures.
By Nick
, June 21, 2007 @ 2:48 am
Nicole, perhaps the “lack of malicious intent” might fly on the assault charge, but what about manslaughter?