"The facts are that the Coroner and the DPP findings were totally opposite."

Impossible. The Coroner doesn't decide whether or not something proceeds to trial. They refer it to the DPP. It is the DPP's call.

"So logically a third opinion was sought."

About as logical as Beattie paying an ex-judge to determine guilt or innocence if he doesn't like the jury finding. ie. not logical

"The police union aren't asking for a fair trial - they are objecting to one of their own being charged at all."

In the circumstances it is outrageous. The DPP decided there was insufficient evidence for charges. What if it was you being charged when due process would have had you left alone?

"It give the impression that they demand that they are above the law and can act in whatever way they want with total immunity."

If you cover your eyes and ears and take a view accordingly it could appear that way.

"It was not mob rule that sought the changes, but some significant people from all walks of life cried foul."

Come on. It is mob rule for the government to second guess a DPP decision due to a protest.

"Chris Hurley will face the court and the legal mob from both sides with argue the fine details."

Putting him and his family through about a year of anguish assuming he is found not guilty. Yet if Beattie didn't do what he did it would be over.

"It is 2007 and maybe, just maybe, Australia is ready to demand justice for all its citizens."

Except Chris Hurley.

ahh but what if a jury of his peers finds he is guilty?

What if he is found as guilty as sin?

What if having a full jury to hear the evidence finds that there was something fishy about the initial police investigation - you know getting a blokes mates to investigate him - will your sanctimonious prattle alter?

Chris Hurley's family may well be suffering but Mulrunji's family is mourning. Regardless of if he is found innocent or guilty, Chris Hurley will not be robbed of his life.

If he is found innocent, or guilty, at least Chris Hurley is alive.

If your son, father or brother, died in the same circumstances as Mulrunji, would you be preaching so ferverntly in favour of the police.

It is time that the police force was held accountable for their actions.

It is 2007 and Chris Hurley will be judged by a court of law and a jury of citizens. Chris Hurley will get all the available justice.

Mulrunji died because of a public drunkeness offence. His liver was split almost in 2, ribs broken, his portal vein severed, he was denied medical help.

Is this your version of justice?

Aka,

“.. what if a jury of his peers finds he is guilty?”

He’d be a cop in jail for a lot longer. However the jury won’t be comprised of ivory tower judiciary. A jury can display a lot of common sense when working together in those circumstances.

”What if he is found as guilty as sin? “
See above. I’ve read the coroners report so I suspect that, subject to dishonesty/bias, I don’t think that will be the outcome.

”What if …jury … finds that there was something fishy about the initial police investigation …?”

I’m sure the jury will hear about the mishandled initial investigation and take a view on it but they are only there to decide Hurley’s guilt or innocence so we will never know what they consider to be the motivation of the investigators.

”Chris Hurley's family may well be suffering but Mulrunji's family is mourning....”

That is no excuse to override the normal judicial process. Should we charge doctors every time a patient dies? It is pretty hypocritical for people who yell when someone is deprived of the proper judicial process to turn into advocates for overriding the process when they don’t like the person getting shafted. It also demonstrates the mentality that creates the abuses of justice in the first place. People haven’t changed mentality since the Myall Creek massacre in 1838. Only the victims and punishments change.

”If your son, father or brother, died ...”

No but I hope I would have the integrity to say that he shouldn’t have been charged.

”It is time that the police force was held accountable ….”
Chris Hurley isn’t a symbolic sacrificial lamb for the police force. He is a human being.

”Chris Hurley will get all the available justice.”
Are you serious? Do you think history will get erased?

“Mulrunji died because of a public drunkeness offence. Is this your version of justice?”

No his tragedy is not. But two wrongs don’t make a right. If instead everyone advocated justice for everyone there would be no more Myall Creeks or Chris Hurley trials etc.

I love reading these forums, particularly when it comes to cop bashing. And a few of the reliable bashers always turn up, namely AKA, and Ludwig.

The police union is so vocal, or were vocal until silenced by the courts, because they know that if there had been video cameras in every watchhouse as has been requested and in fact recommended by the Fitzgerald Inquiry in 1990, there would be no case to answer.

Does anyone think that it is funny that the only person charged over this matter for contempt of court has been the Police Union Executive. No one else.

Remember the police are there to protect life and property. And in this state they do a damn fine job with the resources they are given. All they seem to ask and have been doing so for some time is to have the tools available to protect them and there families from this sort of accusation.

Hurley wil be proven innocent but what then? Imagine what his family is going through. And will that stop the protests? Imagine what is going to happen when he is found innocent. Do you think there will be the usual minority jumping up and down. I'm sure Aka and Ludwig will be saying how it was rigged or whatever.

Remember at the crux of all of this rubbish is a person, how would you like to be going through what he is going through. Imagine that. Not me.

I reckon police could avoid these situations by just not doing anything anymore. Don't arrest people, let them do what they want. Walk away from the aboriginal communities. They don't want police there anyway. See how long before they self destruct. See how long before the state self destructs. See how long before people like AKA start crying for help because there is noone there to protect him anymore.

Nice to see someone so one eyed about the police dtrain. Anyone would think you are a union member.

The simple fact is that Chris Hurley and other police choose to be police officers and they get paid to do a job. They are public servants and if they don't like the job or cannot do it in a lawful and proper manner then they should leave.

I think that the fact that Mulrunji ended up dead from horrific injuries while in the custody of the law enforcement officer Chis Hurley, needs to be bought before a court of law. If Chris Hurley did nothing wrong then why and how did Mulrunji die and how did he get such terrifying injuries?

The case just keeps going around and around - Hurley did nothing wrong but Mulrunji died in his custody.

What happened will be determined by the court.

Cameras may or may not have meant a different outcome or proof of innocence or guilt, but they were not there.

The police force is made up from a cross section of society and there are some fine and honest police, but the inference by the union is that the union wants immunity from the law.

It is about time that the union is reminded that they are supposed to protect citizens and up hold the law, even if that means against one of their colleagues.

Citizens of Queensland should be able to expect that the police service is there to protect all.

Mulrunji was not offered such protection, even his pleas for help went unanswered.

Unfortunately I also expect that Hurley will get freed because I have reservations about the process, but then again I do have some hope as they jailed the police commissioner Terry Lewis after finding that some in the police force were a little dodgy.

It is an adolescent stance to maintain that the police alone are there to uphold the law.

Everybody in the community has that responsibility not just the police.

Because corruption is systemic and widespread within it, the Palm Island community desperately needs outside help and police have a key role to play. It will be a coordinated team effort and hopefully indigenous police will feature strongly in it.

Focussing on one personality does not help and it is unethical to quote his police number. Whatever the Court outcome, any person with a concern about the greater good of the Palm Island community should accept it and move on. Welcoming police and helping them to integrate into the community to become effective is part of that. The women and children deserve a long break from the troubles.

What prevents Palm Island becoming peaceful for the vulnerable? Who stands to gain from more trouble and what do they get out of fomenting more disruption?