Another Aboriginal death in custody comes to light

BRISBANE - Another Aboriginal death in police custody came to light today as hundreds of people were to rally in Townsville to highlight the treatment of Aborigines by Queensland police.

Lennie Casey, 39, died in custody in Normanton, in distant Gulf country, on November 20 after his arrest over the stabbing of a woman in a domestic incident.

Casey had complained of chest pain and collapsed after police charged him with causing grievous bodily harm, deprivation of liberty and other offences, The Courier-Mail newspaper reported.

Casey was taken to Normanton Hospital, where it was decided to transport him to Mount Isa.

He became agitated at the airport and was taken back to hospital, where his condition deteriorated and he died early the next day.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission was overseeing a police investigation into his death.

Today's meeting of indigenous leaders at a Townsville Catholic church follows the death of 36-year-old Cameron Doomadgee in police custody on Queensland's Palm Island on November 19.

And in an incident this week that has heightened tensions, a 16-year-old Aboriginal youth alleged a man and his son tied a noose around his neck and dragged him along a river bank at a property near Goondiwindi on Queensland's southern border.

They also allegedly beat him after accusing him of breaking into their home.

Two men, aged 44 and 23, are to appear in Goondiwindi Magistrates Court on January 18 on assault charges.

The recent events, particularly Mr Doomadgee's death, were to be the focus of today's meeting in the Townsville suburb of Garbutt.

Mr Doomadgee's family will receive the results of a second autopsy next week before his funeral on Palm Island.

Police have said Mr Doomadgee died in the police watchhouse after a fall during a scuffle but the family say he was murdered.

An autopsy report by the Queensland government, revealing Mr Doomadgee died after suffering broken ribs and a ruptured liver, sparked a riot on the island last week.

- AAP