Arabic version: عائلة تقاضي حكومة الإقليم الشمالي بسبب وفاة في الحجز

The family of Kumanjayi Dempsey, a 44-year-old Aboriginal woman who died in police custody, is suing the Northern Territory government for negligence. Dempsey collapsed in the Tennant Creek watch house almost two days after being arrested for aggravated assault on Christmas Day last year. According to ABC News, the family alleges that police officers failed to provide adequate care and medical attention during her time in custody.

Legal documents filed with the Federal Court claim that police did not respond promptly when Dempsey collapsed in her cell. The family argues that her treatment breached established guidelines for corrections and the United Nations standards for prisoner treatment. They assert that police failed to monitor her condition and did not provide timely medical assistance, including access to necessary medication for her rheumatic heart disease.

Dempsey’s partner, Ralph Kelly, and her five children are seeking damages and a court declaration that the police acted negligently. The family’s legal representatives emphasize that Dempsey was left unattended for at least 30 minutes before emergency medical services were called. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at Tennant Creek Hospital.

The family also claims that the conditions in the watch house were unsafe and unhygienic. Kelly, who was in custody at the time, reported that Dempsey’s cell was overheated and lacked proper sanitation. The watch house does not have a custody nurse position funded, despite a recommendation from a 2012 inquest.

The Northern Territory Police are currently compiling a coronial report regarding Dempsey’s death. The family has requested an independent investigation by an interstate police force to ensure accountability for the circumstances surrounding her death.