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Snr Sgt Hurley was acquitted of the charge of Manslaughter.

There is a also a book available that I have read upon which i make no comment:
Gone for a Song, a death in custody on Palm Island by Jeff Waters published by ABC Books.

DAY OF MOURNING FOR ALL
ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY

This is a call to all who have lost loved ones as Aboriginal Deaths in Custody throughout the country (and to their supporters) to come together in unity with family, friends and the Redfern Community at a “Day of Mourning” on Wednesday, 14th Feb., 2007, to mark the 3rd Anniversary of the death of 17 year old Kamilaroi boy, T.J.Hickey, arising from the Hollingsworth chase in Redfern, N.S.W.

The rally will begin at the fence at the rear of Turonga Tower Units in Phillip St. Redfern at 10am (Koori time) for 10.30am start. where there will be an open mike to allow family & community to have their say with a commemorative silence before marching to the old police station in Turner St. and the new police station in Redfern St.

We will then head back to The Block for a community BBQ.

This Day of Mourning is for ALL Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and is also a chance to show our solidarity with the Doomadgee family and the Palm Island community.

STOP THE DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – JUSTICE FOR ALL

from: THE COORABIN

CORONER FINDS POLICEMAN TO
BLAME FOR MULRUNJI'S DEATH
ABC Radio "PM" Transcript
Reporter: David Curnow
Wednesday, 27 September, 2006

MARK COLVIN: Queensland's Deputy Coroner says the riot on Palm Island two years ago started after a policeman punched an Aboriginal man to death.

The Coroner, Christine Clements, says the officer punched the man, now known as Mulrunji, to death in a fit of anger while the man was in custody.

Handing down the findings of an inquest Ms Clements today described evidence from the officer as, at times, ludicrous, questionable and perplexing.

In the riot which the death sparked on the island, the police station was burnt down.

The Coroner says she isn't allowed to recommend criminal charges over the death but she has called for sweeping changes to policing in Indigenous communities.

And lawyers say the findings do appear to vindicate the community's anger over the affair.

This report from David Curnow.

DAVID CURNOW: For a community that feels it's been ignored and unfairly attacked, today's findings are a huge win for the people of Palm Island.

DAVID BULSEY: Well we all know what should happen after today, eh?

REPORTER: And that is?

DAVID BULSEY: Justice.

DAVID CURNOW: For nearly three hours this morning, Deputy Coroner Christine Clements read her report to a cramped courtroom in Townsville, packed with Mulrunji's family and friends and the media.

She describes the death as a terrible tragedy.

The man now known as Mulrunji, she says, was not a troublemaker, had never been arrested, and shouldn't have been arrested on that Friday morning in November, nearly two years ago.

Soon afterwards he was dead on the concrete floor of the Palm Island watch-house.

Mulrunji had been drunk. When he saw police arresting a friend of his, he challenged the officers, wanting to know why. They told him to go away, but he swore at them. Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley then arrested Mulrunji.

The Deputy Coroner says that was completely unjustified and based purely on the officer's need to exert his authority.

Mulrunji was brought to the Palm Island watch-house where he hit Senior Sergeant Hurley.

CHRISTINE CLEMENTS (voiceover): I am satisfied that Senior Sergeant Hurley lost his temper and hit Mulrunji after falling to the floor.

I conclude that these actions of Senior Sergeant Hurley caused the fatal injuries.

DAVID CURNOW: Police dragged Mulrunji to a cell, making no attempt to check on the injured man's health.

He died within the hour.

When an autopsy showed Mulrunji suffered four broken ribs and died from internal injuries including a ruptured liver, a riot broke out on the island.

The police station was torched and seven people are still before the courts facing charges over the incident.

The original inquest into the death ended when the State Coroner stood down last year amid claims of bias, and island residents weren't expecting much from today's rulings.

David Bulsey was a friend of Mulrunji's

DAVID BULSEY: Yeah, very surprised but I'm happy with it all. I think something going to come out of it.

REPORTER: You didn't think it would be this strong?

DAVID BULSEY: I didn't think so, no. You know, after all the other deaths in custody that no-one ever got convicted for it.

But hopefully this one will straighten a lot of things out and be good for all of us. You know, not just us on Palm Island, good for everybody.

We don't want more dying in custody, you know. Don't matter who they are; white, black or brown. We don't want anybody dying in custody.

DAVID CURNOW: The lawyer for the Palm Island Council, Andrew Boe, says the findings today are a win for the community.

ANDREW BOE: People are concerned that she has not made any recommendation for criminal charges or the like, but people need to understand that that is not her function and she's not even permitted to do so.

I do know that the matter has now been referred to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions), and it's really in that office's court to decide whether there's sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.

DAVID CURNOW: One of Christine Clements' key findings today was that the subsequent investigation into Mulrinji's death was inappropriate and flawed.

The officers sent to investigate the death knew Senior Sergeant Hurley, who met them at the airport, and they ate dinner at his house during the investigation.

Ms Clements said it's reprehensible that standards set after the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody 15 years ago are still not being followed.

Lawyer, Andrew Boe.

ANDREW BOE: This report has confirmed that despite all the talk, despite all the rhetoric on web pages about being sensitive to Indigenous issues, it doesn't actually occur in practice.

And until a significant proportion of the police service move in their heart towards recognising that it's not an act of generosity to be decent to Aboriginal people. It's something that Aboriginal people are entitled to receive.

Let's look at the fact that the, the fact that this man went into custody was for a street offence and the Coroner has found that he should not have been arrested. Every day in urban centres and in rural areas, Indigenous people are put into jail for street offences.

The Commission, the Royal Commission identified 15 years ago that this was an unacceptable standard of policing.

The police service have fought vigilantly to keep their right to arrest in these circumstances and we have to be brave enough and mature enough as a community to recognise that even if it is not racist by intent, it is racism by result.

DAVID CURNOW: The Queensland Police Commissioner, Bob Atkinson, is considering the findings but says he sees no grounds to suspend any of the officers involved in the affair.

Queensland's Police Union President, Gary Wilkinson, describes the inquest as a witch-hunt.

GARY WILKINSON: This decision by this Coroner has dumbfounded us. He's done nothing wrong and he has the full support of the union. Every police officer involved in this inquest has the full support of the union.

Hopefully the DPP will see through this rubbish and throw it out. Throw it in the bin where it belongs.

DAVID CURNOW: But for people like Aboriginal activist, Gracelyn Smallwood, this is the beginning of change around the nation.

GRACELYN SMALLWOOD: We hope that justice is going to be done for all Australians. That police officers misusing power have to be judged in the same way as everyone else in this country.

REPORTER: Could it be a new beginning for Palm Island?

GRACELYN SMALLWOOD: Absolutely, and a new beginning that, of this justice and reconciliation.

MARK COLVIN: That report by David Curnow.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1750469.htm