Police reject independent probe into death in custody of Indigenous man with disability at Cole in Alice Springs
Calls for an independent probe into a young man's death in custody have been rejected by police after an emotional vigil.
Family and supporters shed tears and demanded justice when they gathered in Alice Springs CBD on Friday to remember the mentally disabled 24-year-old.
The vigil was held at the Coles supermarket where the young man from the small desert town of Yuendumu was restrained by two police officers.
'We want justice,' the man's grandfather, Yuendumu elder and Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves told the packed gathering.
The young man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on a National Disability Insurance Scheme plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting.
A police investigation has been launched after the man fell unconscious while restrained on Tuesday and died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy believes an independent death in custody probe may be warranted.
She said wounds had been reopened for the people of Yuendumu by the latest incident after 'many traumas'.
'In the interest of having some separation, calls for an independent investigation may be warranted. It may be important to do that, given that there is such tension,' Senator McCarthy told ABC.
'Tragic death'
Advocates such as Amnesty International have also backed an independent investigation to 'ensure impartiality and to maintain public confidence in the process'.
But NT Police on Friday 'respectfully' rejected the suggestion, saying their investigation would operate under strict protocols with full transparency and be independently reviewed by the coroner.
'The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the tragic death of a 24-year-old man in Alice Springs on Tuesday,' Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said in a statement.
'On behalf of NT police, I extend sincere condolences to his family, friends and community.
'I understand the high level of public interest in this matter. However, I respectfully reject calls for the investigation to be handed to an external body.'
The acting commissioner said he had spoken with Senator McCarthy about her suggestion and conveyed his confidence in the 'robust and well-established' system of oversight in place.
'I also expressed my full confidence in our detectives and the independent processes already in place within the NT Police Force,' he said.
'We ask the community to allow the investigation to take its course. We are committed to a full and fair examination of the facts.'
The incident has sparked widespread anger, with hundreds attending Friday's vigil.
Family and supporters demanded answers during speeches, asking witnesses to come forward.
They then entered the Coles supermarket wearing ceremonial paint and carrying branches.
'Further investigation'
Police late on Thursday alleged the 24-year-old man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident and said they were investigating.
They also revealed an autopsy had found the man's death was 'undetermined'.
The preliminary result would require 'further investigation to provide any substantive cause of death', NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said in a statement.
The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest.
Rolfe was in 2022 found not guilty of all charges over the death.
The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the case.
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Police reject independent probe into death in custody of Indigenous man with disability at Cole in Alice Springs
Calls for an independent probe into a young man's death in custody have been rejected by police after an emotional vigil. Family and supporters shed tears and demanded justice when they gathered in Alice Springs CBD on Friday to remember the mentally disabled 24-year-old. The vigil was held at the Coles supermarket where the young man from the small desert town of Yuendumu was restrained by two police officers. 'We want justice,' the man's grandfather, Yuendumu elder and Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves told the packed gathering. The young man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on a National Disability Insurance Scheme plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. A police investigation has been launched after the man fell unconscious while restrained on Tuesday and died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy believes an independent death in custody probe may be warranted. She said wounds had been reopened for the people of Yuendumu by the latest incident after 'many traumas'. 'In the interest of having some separation, calls for an independent investigation may be warranted. It may be important to do that, given that there is such tension,' Senator McCarthy told ABC. 'Tragic death' Advocates such as Amnesty International have also backed an independent investigation to 'ensure impartiality and to maintain public confidence in the process'. But NT Police on Friday 'respectfully' rejected the suggestion, saying their investigation would operate under strict protocols with full transparency and be independently reviewed by the coroner. 'The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the tragic death of a 24-year-old man in Alice Springs on Tuesday,' Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said in a statement. 'On behalf of NT police, I extend sincere condolences to his family, friends and community. 'I understand the high level of public interest in this matter. However, I respectfully reject calls for the investigation to be handed to an external body.' The acting commissioner said he had spoken with Senator McCarthy about her suggestion and conveyed his confidence in the 'robust and well-established' system of oversight in place. 'I also expressed my full confidence in our detectives and the independent processes already in place within the NT Police Force,' he said. 'We ask the community to allow the investigation to take its course. We are committed to a full and fair examination of the facts.' The incident has sparked widespread anger, with hundreds attending Friday's vigil. Family and supporters demanded answers during speeches, asking witnesses to come forward. They then entered the Coles supermarket wearing ceremonial paint and carrying branches. 'Further investigation' Police late on Thursday alleged the 24-year-old man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident and said they were investigating. They also revealed an autopsy had found the man's death was 'undetermined'. The preliminary result would require 'further investigation to provide any substantive cause of death', NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said in a statement. The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest. Rolfe was in 2022 found not guilty of all charges over the death. The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the case.
