Western Australia records third death in custody in less than two months

Western Australia has recorded its third death in custody in less than two months after an Aboriginal man was found dead in his cell at Roebourne Regional Prison on Wednesday.

A 2016 photo of a cell in Roebourne Regional Prison in Western Australia.

A 2016 photo of a cell in Roebourne Regional Prison in Western Australia. Source: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services

The Department of Justice has confirmed a third death in custody in Western Australia in less than two months after a 47-year-old man was found dead at Roebourne Prison.

"The Aboriginal man was discovered unconscious in his six-person dormitory cell this morning by prison officers," the Department of Justice said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Efforts by prison medical staff and paramedics to revive him were unsuccessful.

"Local police have attended the prison. There does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances."

The department said the man's death will be subject to an inquest.

This man's death follows two deaths in custody at the privately-run Acacia Prison, a 19-year-old man who died earlier this month, and a 40-year-old man who was found collapsed in June.

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Published 30 July 2020 10:10am
Updated 30 July 2020 10:17am
Source: NITV News


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