2004 Palm Island Death in Custody

Timeline
Date	Event
8 July ₂₀₀₃	Chris Hurley points out lack of alcohol diversionary program on Palm Island meaning that the only option for drunk and disorderly Palm Islanders is to take them to the watchhouse.
19 November ₂₀₀₄	Mulrunji, 36, dies in custody at Palm Island police station after being arrested for being drunk and causing a nuisance.
26 November ₂₀₀₄	Palm Islanders riot. Police officers seek refuge at the island's hospital and are airlifted to safety. Rioters burn down the police station, courthouse and the home of officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.
1 December ₂₀₀₄	State Coroner Michael Barnes orders a second autopsy be conducted.
3 December ₂₀₀₄	Private investigator hired to carry out an independent investigation into Mulrunji's death.
11 December ₂₀₀₄	Doomadgee funeral, Palm Island elders call for justice rather than division.
11 February ₂₀₀₅	Chris Hurley receives a confidential payout of A$102,955 from the Queensland Government.
28 February ₂₀₀₅	Coronial inquiry into Mulrunji's death begins.
1 March ₂₀₀₅	The inquest proceedings are stalled after allegations of bias are made against Mr Barnes.
4 March ₂₀₀₅	State Coroner Michael Barnes stands down from the inquiry after claims of bias.
30 March ₂₀₀₅	Second inquiry begins with Deputy Coroner Christine Clements as Acting Coroner.
27 February ₂₀₀₆	The inquest resumes on Palm Island for two days, and then for the following three days in Townsville
27 September ₂₀₀₆	Deputy Coroner Christine Clements finds Snr Sgt Hurley responsible for Mulrunji's fatal injuries.
7 October ₂₀₀₆	Senior Sgt Hurley stood down following the coroner's findings.
14 December ₂₀₀₆	Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare announces that no charges will be laid against Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over Mulrunji's death.
14 December ₂₀₀₆	Criminal Misconduct Commission announces that no disciplinary charges will be laid against Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over Mulrunji's death.
4 January ₂₀₀₇	Former NSW chief justice Sir Laurence Street starts review of DPP's decision.
16 January ₂₀₀₇	Witness Patrick Bramwell hangs himself on Palm Island.
26 January ₂₀₀₇	Sir Laurence advises there is enough evidence to prosecute Snr Sgt Hurley, who is officially suspended.
5 February ₂₀₀₇	Snr Sgt Hurley faces Supreme Court charged with manslaughter and assault.
6 February ₂₀₀₇	Queensland police halt plans to march on state parliament over Snr Sgt Hurley being charged after Premier Peter Beattie accedes to demands for closed circuit cameras in watchhouses in Aboriginal communities.
16 March ₂₀₀₇	Justice Kerry Cullinane sets down a two-week trial to start on 12 June in the Townsville Supreme Court for Snr Sgt Hurley.
22 March ₂₀₀₇	William Neville Blackman, John Major Clumpoint, Dwayne Daniel Blanket, and Lance Gabriel Poynter are found not guilty of rioting with destruction by a Brisbane Supreme Court jury.
April ₂₀₀₇	Crime and Misconduct Commission announces a review of policing in indigenous communities.
8 May ₂₀₀₇	Terrence Alfred Kidner sentenced to 16 months in jail in Townsville District Court after pleading guilty to rioting on Palm Island.
31 May ₂₀₀₇	Accused rioter Lex Wotton succeeds in Brisbane District Court application to be released from custody on bail with strict conditions, formally entering a plea of not guilty to rioting with destruction on Palm Island.
5 June ₂₀₀₇	State budget announces boost to police numbers in indigenous communities, more CCTV cameras for watchhouses.
10 June ₂₀₀₇	Queensland Police Minister announces an extra 29 police officers for indigenous communities.
12 June ₂₀₀₇	Hurley case begins in Townsville Supreme Court. Large group of Palm Islanders and police turns up to watch.
15 June ₂₀₀₇	Snr Sgt Hurley breaks silence, testifying in his own defence. Says he has come to terms with the fact he caused the death, but strongly denies any intention to cause harm.
20 June ₂₀₀₇	Jury acquits Hurley on manslaughter and assault charges.
September ₂₀₀₈	Lawyers for Chris Hurley appeal to Queensland's District Court to overturn Deputy Coroner Christine Clement's 26 September 2006 findings that he had fatally injured Mulurunji
17 December ₂₀₀₈	Townsville District Court Judge Bob Pack hands down a ruling upholding Chris Hurley's appeal and ordering a fresh inquest in Mulurunji's death.
16 June ₂₀₀₉	Queensland Court of Appeal hands down a ruling affirming that the Coroner's findings be overturned, revealing that the Coroner's report failed to mention that medical evidence unequivocally rejected that punching could have caused the death, and ordering a fresh inquest in Mulurunji's death.