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Sister wanted to confront Weatherill after Yatala prisoner death

The sister of an indigenous man who died after a violent altercation with five guards at a South Australian prison says she wanted to confront the premier over his death but ended up breaking down.

Sep 26, 2016, updated Sep 26, 2016
An Indigenous man from Yatala Labour Prison died this morning following an incident last Friday.

An Indigenous man from Yatala Labour Prison died this morning following an incident last Friday.

The 29-year-old man, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, died early this morning an Adelaide hospital.

SA police’s correctional services unit and Major Crime Detectives are investigating the circumstances of the man’s death.

The man’s sister, Latoya Rule, posted on Facebook that she had walked to parliament but broke down before Jay Weatherill arrived there.

“We said goodbye to my brother early this morning… I walked from the hospital to the steps of parliament and just sat there all morning till the sun came up… I thought that maybe I had the courage to stay until Jay Weatherill came out and I could ask for justice… but I just ended up breaking down,” the Facebook post says.

“I can’t be strong. I am broken. We are broken.”

Detectives from SAPOL’s Police Corrections Section are investigating the death of the man, who was remanded in custody at the Yatala Labour Prison when the incident occurred on Friday.

The Greens today joined the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement in calling for an independent investigation into the death.

Senator Hanson-Young said case demanded more than a police investigation.

“What we need is a rigorous independent investigation to get to the bottom of exactly what happened here,” she said.

Correctional Services Minister Peter Malinauskas told ABC 891 radio this morning the man died after spending three days in a serious condition at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The inmate was taken to the hospital on Friday after an incident at the prison in which he allegedly attacked prison officers.

“Around lunchtime on Friday afternoon, the gentleman concerned was being transported within Yatala Labour Prison to appear before the Magistrate’s Court via audio-visual link,” Malinauskas said.

“During that transportation an incident ensued, where, allegedly, assault took place – by the prisoner towards prison officers.

“They then sought to subdue the gentleman and then again transport him within the Yatala Labour Prison complex to a separate division.

“A medical emergency ensued immediately following that transportation taking place and then, consequently, the man received on-the-spot medical treatment and an ambulance was called and he was transported to the RAH.”

Malinauskas said the Government’s thoughts were with the family of the deceased man.

“But I also want to pass on my thoughts and regards to those prisoners that were injured during the course of the incident that took place on Friday.”

“I understand that five prison officers were hospitalised during the course of those events.”

Major Crime Detectives are assisting with the investigation.

Malinauskas said two of the officers that had been injured during the incident had received facial fractures, but that all of the officers had now been discharged from hospital.

“They’ve all been discharged from hospital, and their physical health will be okay,” he said.

“They are going to be subject to an enormous amount of scrutiny, as is appropriate, and that will no-doubt be a stressful time for them.”

He said the inmate, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, was remanded in custody when the incident occurred: “I’m not in a position to disclose what the gentleman has been charged with.”

“[However] when people are remanded into custody it is because their alleged offences are of an incredibly serious nature.”

South Australian Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement deputy chair Tauto Sansbury told the radio program the man’s family and had been kept “completely in the dark” about key details.

“The family has been basically locked out of seeing the young lad, at the first instance when he was at the hospital,” he said.

“I’ve been involved with Aboriginal deaths in custody for a number of years and nothing has changed.”

But Malinauskas said: “I completely reject any suggestion that somehow there is a conspiracy to cover up or not disclose information here”.

Department for Correctional Services Chief Executive David Brown released a statement this morning, expressing condolences to the family of the deceased man.

“I want to again acknowledge the pain the family must be experiencing, my thoughts are with the family and I want to reiterate that we are doing everything in our power to assist SAPOL with their investigation,” he said.

“SAPOL are currently investigating the incident and in accordance with the Coroners Act 2003, the death will also be subject to a Coroner’s Inquiry.

“In light of this and the ongoing SAPOL investigation I am restricted in what I can say in regards to specific details of the incident.

“I want to reiterate that any death in custody is of deep concern and I again want to extend my condolences to the family of the deceased.

“Every possible action is taken by staff to identify and, wherever possible, prevent deaths in custody.”

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

-With AAP. 

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