Vol. 72/No. 48      December 8, 2008

More than 100 people picketed outside the Sydney District Court to protest the sentence. “A white, murdering cop goes free and a man is in prison over destruction of property,” said Jenny Munro, a longtime Aboriginal rights activist here.

The same day, about 100 people, including many of Wotton’s family members dressed in Aboriginal colors of red, black, and yellow, protested outside the Townsville court in the state of Queensland where he was sentenced. Hundreds also protested in Brisbane and Melbourne. Pickets were held in Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand.

Prosecutors had sought a 10-year sentence against Wotton, a 40-year-old plumber and community leader. With time served, he will be eligible for parole by July 2010. Wotton will not appeal the sentence.

Wotton’s mother, Agnes, told the National Indigenous Times, “I don’t believe he should have served any more time… . But I’m glad he didn’t get 10 years or life.”

His brother-in-law, Raymond Sibley, the island’s deputy mayor, said to the Townsville Bulletin, “They had an all-white jury, a white judge. It’s typical Queensland law.”

The protests on Palm Island erupted after Mulrunji Doomadgee, an Aboriginal, died from massive internal injuries Nov. 14, 2004, an hour after his arrest and beating by Sergeant Christopher Hurley. A coroner’s report said cell video images of an unattended and dying Mulrunji “writhing in pain … were shocking.”

A week later, when an initial autopsy report detailed his injuries but cleared the cops, tensions exploded among the 4,000 mainly indigenous Palm Island residents. Hundreds angrily protested outside the courthouse. A number of police buildings were later burned down.

Queensland police responded with a massive, heavily armed sweep across the island. Almost 30 Palm Island residents were arrested. Some were later jailed for a few weeks or up to two years. As Wotton was arrested, cops shot him in front of his children with a Taser gun. Wotton’s mother and sister were also arrested, but the charges were dropped.

Under pressure from national protests and international publicity, the Queensland government was forced to put Hurley on trial. He became the first cop in the state ever charged over death of a Black in custody.

In 2007, an all-white jury cleared Hurley of manslaughter charges. He has subsequently received $100,000 in “damages.” He is now appealing a 2006 coroner’s report that found him responsible for the death. Both he and the cop who submitted a false report to cover up the murderous attack have since been promoted.

Four of the 19 Palm Island residents who faced trials were acquitted last year of similar “rioting” charges. One, William Blackman, told the National Indigenous Times that he is now “a marked man” in the eyes of the Townsville police. He has been beaten up by cops and convicted on other, lesser charges. Blackman says that Palm Islanders will continue their resistance to cop brutality.

In a provocative move by the Queensland government, 22 cops who were part of the police crackdown on Palm Island in 2004 received bravery awards in Townsville only four days before Wotton’s sentencing.

Messages of solidarity can be sent to Wotton in jail by e-mail at: freelexwotton@gmail.com.  
 
 
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