Douglas Scott -- Black death in custody -- NT/7

Black death in custody -- NT/7 mick lambe 2004-04-26 Imagine the scenario... 60 days on remand (unjust enough) for allegedly swearing in a Darwin hotel. And we are supposed to believe the prisoner hanged himself. Photos of this tragic event show the deceased's feet touching the ground. "Widow asks NT Prison Officers... ...Why did you murder my Husband Douglas Scott?" Background: From - Asian Human Rights Commission - Douglas Scott Case Extracts: Douglas Scott was a member of the Anmatyerre Aboriginal Nation of Central Australia. In 1985, he was arrested in Darwin, Northern Territory for allegedly swearing in public. He was kept in custody for 60 days and allegedly beaten by the police and prison guards. On the morning of July 5, Douglas Scott died while in custody. Subsequent trials found that he committed suicide, and photographs were produced by the police in which Mr. Scott was hanging by a bed-sheet in his prison cell. Letty Scott, aboriginal mother and widow of Douglas, was never satisfied with this finding, and has struggled ever since to have the case re-opened. She managed to get information from other prisoners incarcerated at the same place as Douglas Scott at the time of his death - they testify that he was beaten by prison guards the night of his death. Letty went further. She went to the UN Commission on Human Rights and made an oral submission. With the help of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of America, she got together a team of some of the world's most eminent forensic experts, who conducted a detailed analysis of the available evidence. The forensic team took the view that a large amount of evidence had not been considered in determining Douglas Scott's fate, and that the marks on his neck were 'more consistent with manual neck compression than with hanging mechanisms'. They produced a comprehensive Reconstruction Report of their findings and called for a new inquiry into the death of Douglas Scott. --------------------------------------------------------- The Allegations That Barrister Mr Michael Dodson as Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody case NT/7 into the death of Douglas Scott, concealed evidence. Unlawfully conspiring to prevent an eyewitness from giving his evidence to, and oral testimony before, the Royal Commission into the Death of Douglas Scott. Namely Jeffrey Bindai's statement... ... that four Darwin Prison officers entered the cell of Douglas Bruce Scott carrying batons prior to his death. ...that he and other prisoners heard the sounds of the Prison Officers beating Douglas with batons and Douglas screaming for help. ...that when they screamed out to the Prison Guards to stop beating Douglas with batons, a Prison Guard with an eagle tattooed on his arm, told Jeffrey Bindai to shut his mouth or he would be next. ...that he next saw Douglas hanging and that he and Laurie Percy were forced to clean Douglas' blood from the walls, floor and toilet, inside Douglas' cell. ...that this evidence was taken by Solicitor Geoffrey Barbaro Assisting the Royal Commission, at Doon Doon Station from eyewitness Jeffrey Bindai. It is alleged that this evidence and this statement "witness check list" of Jeffrey Bindai, taken there by Solicitor Barbaro, was concealed from the Royal Commission by Barrister Michael Dodson, Barrister Assisting the Royal Commission. ...that Barrister Mr Michael Dodson threatened the eyewitness Jeffrey Bindai to shut his mouth and not tell anyone about the things which the eyewitness testified to seeing and hearing on the night of Douglas Scott's murder and the morning after ...that Counsel Assisting: Barrister Mr Michael Dodson and Solicitor Assisting - Solicitor Geoffrey Barbaro, put a fraudulent statement before the witness to sign and made him sign it. ...that this false statement fabricated by Counsel Barrister Michael Dodson and Solicitor Geoffrey Barbaro was tendered before the Royal Commission into the Death of Douglas Scott with intent to mislead the Royal Commission, pervert the course of justice and to conceal Jeffrey Bindaiâ's true evidence. ...that Barrister Michael Dodson and Barrister Pat Loftus conspired to conceal the original two Polaroid photographs and their contents pictured therein, from the Royal Commission. =========================== Royal Commission: Case NT/7 "Furthermore there is no evidence to suggest that he was improperly treated during his period at the prison, either by Prison Officers or other inmates." COMMISSIONER ELLIOTT JOHNSTON, QC 17 September 1990