Chanting “How many more? No more!” the protesters expressed their anger at the decision of Queensland's Director of Public Prosecution, Leanne Clare, not to bring criminal charges against senior sergeant Christopher Hurley for killing Mulrunji. Protests also took place around the country that day: 1,000 in Brisbane, 400 in Cairns, and 300 on Palm Island, as well as in Melbourne and Sydney. Clare announced the decision not to prosecute Hurley at a December 14 press conference in Townsville, stating that the death "was a terrible accident.” Her assertion contradicted the finding three months ago by the deputy state coroner, Christine Clement, that the cop “caused the fatal injuries” and that the police made no attempt to assist Mulrunji as he lay dying.

Mulrunji was arrested on Palm Island on Nov. 19, 2004, and died shortly after being taken to the police station. The autopsy report found that he died from a ruptured liver and portal vein and had also suffered four broken ribs.

Palm Island is an Aboriginal community populated by around 4,000 people, about 40 miles north of Townsville. For much of the 20th century it served as a government internment camp for Aborigines. About 15 Aboriginal supporters of Mulrunji were escorted from Clare’s press conference by plainclothes police before she spoke. They then joined a protest against the decision not to prosecute Hurley. Sam Savage, one of the protesters, said, “This is injustice and our people face this on a daily basis,” the Koori Mail, a national Aboriginal newspaper, reported. Mulrunji’s cousin, Melisa Anderson, who took part in the December 20 Townsville protest, said the big turnout “shows how much support there is to fight for … Mulrunji and all the other people who have died in custody," according to the Townsville Bulletin. After the protests, Queensland’s Labor Party premier, Peter Beattie, promised an “independent review” of Clare’s decision. Initially he had said he would not interfere in the case.
 
 
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