The sister of a man who died while in police custody offered a heartbreaking victim statement during the inquest into his death.
The young man, who cannot be named, passed away in November 2019 following his detention by police in Rockhampton, Central Queensland.
Across the street from the Leichhardt Hotel, he was arrested and transported in the back of a police cruiser to the Rockhampton watchhouse.
The man died en route from the Leichhardt Hotel to the Rockhampton watch house (above) after informing cops he couldn’t breathe.
His saddened sister wept in the courtroom as the body-cam recording from his arrest was played.
In the film, the man could be heard shouting, “I can’t breathe,” “murder,” and “you are real cops” repeatedly.
Moments after placing the semi-conscious man in the ‘pod’ in the rear of the truck, the officers laughed.
The man was unresponsive and had no pulse when the car arrived at the watch house.
After hearing the clip, his grieving sister confronted one of the highest-ranking officers in Central Queensland, Inspector Mark Burgess, and informed him she was shocked by the officers’ laughter.
Inspector Burgess was not personally involved in the incident, but his subordinates were.
Additionally, the man’s sister provided a witness impact statement on behalf of their family.
Officers were heard chuckling after placing the semiconscious man in a ‘pod’ in the back of their car, according to audio revealed before the inquest.
“He is so much more than “the deceased” or the topic of this inquiry,” she stated, as reported by the Courier Mail.
“He was an athlete, a comic, a father, a friend, a son, an uncle, and yes, a brother.” He was a diligent worker and a globetrotter.
“He was and is sincerely cherished and sorely missed.” We maintained a tight, enduring relationship throughout our lives. Our last words to each other were ‘love you’ and ‘love you too’.’
‘Of course, I could not have realized that these would be the final words I would have with my cherished brother, but the remembrance of our daily, loving, final interchange provides me with a little measure of solace.’
She stated that her brother was a fly-in, fly-out worker who placed family time above everything else.
She said, “He was a tremendous emotional and physical support in caring for our mother, who passed away last year.”
Since (his) passing, I find it difficult to embrace and appreciate life with the same fervor and determination as before.
In November of 2019, the man was arrested in front of the Leichhardt Hotel, which is located directly across the street from the watch house.
Always something or someone is lacking. There is a perpetual void in my heart.
The bereaved relative stated that it is impossible to comprehend how traumatic her brother’s death has been for their family, and that the circumstances surrounding his death have further exacerbated their grief.
She remarked, “What bothers me, what I fight to live with, is the manner in which he died: unable to breathe, alone, terrified, in the dark.”
“I am unable to find significance in his death, so I beg you to ascribe some value to this tragic loss… improved checks & balances, processes, and training.
“Let (his) death have meaning, so that no other family is forced to travel this terrible, lonely route.”
‘To the world, he was just one but to us, he was – and is – the world.’