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Race relations take a hit after Wotton verdict: Yanner

7 November 2008 - North Queensland Aboriginal leader Murrandoo Yanner says there is only so much Indigenous people can take from police, politicians and the legal system before they reach a breaking point.

Mr Yanner says he is disappointed with a six-year jail sentence handed to Lex Wotton in Townsville today for his role in a riot on Palm Island in 2004 following the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee.

Wotton's family say they are relieved he did not get a life sentence and they will not be mounting an appeal.

But Mr Yanner says Aboriginal people never seem to win.

"He [Wotton] has copped a very severe sentence really, six years for standing up for a mate and trying to prevent a cover up for that mates death," he said.

"Relations have definitely been set back between police and Aboriginal people.

"It's not one that is going to explode any minute but it is certainly one that is another nail in the coffin in race relations in this state."

Indigenous rights campaigner Gracelyn Smallwood says she is pleased Wotton's sentence was not longer.

"My word its too long but with this system I'm sure we don't want an appeal cause it could take him longer," she said.

"We're just pleased with the outcome, the community can move on, especially Palm Island and all the trauma that we've endured."

Mayor of Palm Island Alf Lacey says Wotton's trial has been hard on the community.

"I've been calling for calm in the last couple of weeks and certainly today brings a chapter, one of those chapters closed for Palm," he told the ABC's PM program.

"Certainly I'd hope and pray that we move along a bit and Palm will continue to be strong and stand strong."

Race Discrimination and Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma says recommendations made by the Coroner investigating Mulrunji's death, and earlier by the Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody have not been fully carried out.

Mr Calma said it was difficult to say if police should shoulder some responsibility for how events have turned out during this period.

"In relation to individual police, that's something that the police associations have to confront. Do it with some honesty and integrity," he said.

"I'm not suggesting that they're not and also take into consideration compassion in understanding the plight of the people who they deal with and to be able to address those issues before they escalate into undesirable behaviours that we all don't want to see happen in the future."

Source: ABC

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