‘Heartbroken’: Family of Indigenous man killed in custody plea for answers

BeyondWords Text to Speech David's voice The family of an Indigenous man who died after being detained by police at a supermarket in Alice Springs have made a desperate plea for answers, as hundreds rally in Brisbane and Sydney over deaths in custody. Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White, 24, died after being restrained by two off-duty police officers at a Coles supermarket in Alice Springs on May 27, following what police described an altercation with a security guard. In a statement on behalf of My White’s family, chief executive of the Sydney-based National Justice Project, George Newhouse, said they were “angry and heartbroken” that another Walpiri man had died while in police custody. Mr Newhouse said the 24-year-old was “deeply loved and missed by his family and his people”, and that, with rallies across the country on Sunday, the “message is clear: We stand with Warlpiri No more deaths in custody.” “The family demands answers. Right now the Northern Territory Police are undertaking a criminal investigation into Kumanjayi White’s death to, in their own words, ‘determine whether any criminality was involved’. “The family has called for these investigations to be independent, but this demand has been unjustly rejected by Northern Territory Chief Minister who continues to oversee a racist agenda against the NT’s Indigenous peoples. “Despite these setbacks, the family continues to fight. “Now that a criminal investigation is underway, the family call on the Northern Territory police officers involved to be stood down immediately. This should be an obvious action in any criminal inquiry. Stand down now.” A rally in Alice Springs has heard from the family of Kumanjayi White, a 24-year-old man who recently died in custody, calling for the police involved to stand down. The family thanked the Central Land Council, who have pushed for the federal government to “withhold” funding from NT Police until an impendent probe is established, and called for CCTV and body cam footage to be released. Last month, NT Police acting commissioner Martin Dole acknowledged the “tragic death” of Mr White and expressed condolences to his family, but “rejected for the investigation to be handed to an external body”. “This incident is being investigated by our Major Crime Division, which operates under strict protocols and with full transparency,” Mr Dole said. “The investigation will also be independently reviewed by the NT Coroner, who has broad powers to examine all aspects of the incident and make findings without interference.” Mr Dole said he had expressed his “full confidence” in the investigation to NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, who had previously called for an independent probe, and asked the community “allow the investigation to take its course”. In a statement, NT Police said the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of the altercation involving Mr White shortly after 1pm, after he allegedly placed “items down the front of his clothing”. Police allege one of the security guards was assaulted during the ensuing altercation, before Mr White was placed on the ground by two plainclothes police officers who intervened – he lost consciousness a short time later. Initial first aid, including CPR, was provided, before police said Mr White was rushed to Alice Springs Hospital where he was pronounced deceased shortly after 2:20pm. Teh cause of death is yet to be officially determined. On Sunday, hundreds rallied across Sydney and Brisbane to “demand justice” following Mr White’s death, with earlier vigils held at Alice Springs, Melbourne, and Cairns.