From last week's 'Four Corners' on ABCTV:

<< On a hot Saturday night, just over a year ago, Laverton police arrested Mr Ward for driving under the influence of alcohol. Less than 24 hours later he was dead. He had been transported 400 kilometres in the back of a prison van operated by a private security firm. The air temperature inside his cell was over 47 degrees, and the metal surface reached 56 degrees. >>

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2009/s2595622.htm

The private security company responsible has now belatedly sacked the two guards who directly caused Mr Ward's death, and the WA DPP is considering whether charges should be laid.

If an animal had died under similar circumstances they certainly would be.

Having watched the program and read some more background on this appalling incident, I think that both the guards and the company that employed them should be charged with manslaughter over Mr Ward's death. What do others think?

Absolutely.
Murder, criminal negligence, willful disregard of duty of care, manslaughter at the very least.

Totally agree, it's a disgusting thought but just imagine if this had been done to a Caucasian, or even a dog, they wouldn't have hesitated.

For once I agree with CJMorgan. This seems to have been a clear case of negligence at least and calculated torture that went too far at worst. The perpetrators should be held to account.

Charges should not only be laid against the driver but also the directors of the company who have control over policy and its implementation.They knew that the aircon was faulty.

it is easy to cast the blame at empolyees..[too easy]...what we need is a process that punishes the ngo that supplied bad equipment..[that didnt even bother repairing a lousy airconditioner

this is what we have when govt privatises out its duty of care..[like nsw rail has let the rails infastructure run down..while selling off the rolling stock..[like docs is now privatised out to ngo's..[we have a huge ngo systems failing..

[the ngo's need to realise a minimal standard's..[not ever less than what govt was charged to observe..[that means their sharholders need to pay more of their proffits..in maintaining the basics]

those workers can only work with the equipment the ngo supplies[..punitive payments must be sought in civil court

[either the ngo's didnt train their employees properly[or the employees were made to work with defective equipment as a condition of their employment

name calling isnt going to fix this cancer of privatisation..[ngo's must be made to acount for their failings..big time..to make sure they get the message/that they have the duty of care

this was murder by multinationalised negligence..[make those..who didnt do their duty..pay]

the poor mugs who actually did the murder had no choice..they followed higher ORDERS..[IF we wish to make the white collar ELITES do the job..they tendered for properly..they must be knowing they will be held to account..

[by claiming to be able to do better..than govt,..they must be seen to do it BETTER..or the for proffit ngo..needs to lose their murderous/fraudulent gain..

its about money for them...make them pay huge money..[where is the pro-bono lawyer suing the ngo?...if no lawyer will do it..then govt MUST.

enough of this private corpe-rat-ization..unaccountable to anyone..[not even the law]..nor..duty of care..[nor civil accountable norms]or common decencies..

[due not alone to the first people...but all the people]..

govt is about serving the common need..via common decencies..when this fails someones feet must be held to the fire..[at the upper MANAGMENT/levels..not the poor ignorant'S..pay aS THEY EARN..working slobs/..hired as scapegoats