Police refuse help to dying man

A POLICE sergeant ordered emergency crews not to take an Aboriginal man out of his burned-out cell, a coroner's inquest in Cloncurry, Queensland, was told on March 1.

Two firefighters told the court that they tried to remove Robert Parker, “who was still alive”, from his padded watch-house cell, only to be told to drop him as he was already dead.

Parker, 22, formerly of Atherton in north Queensland, died within 24 hours of inhaling toxic fumes and suffering second-degree burns on October 15, 1998. Parker, a father of two six-year-old boys, had been arrested over outstanding fines of $3500.

The inquest was told that after several crucial minutes the “message” that Parker was still alive got through and there was panic to remove him. Ambulance officer Robert Shepherd said he was standing several metres behind police and heard the yells that Parker was still breathing. “It was obvious he was breathing. He was coughing and spluttering”, Shepherd said.

Two police officers who were present at the time have declined to give evidence.

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