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BRISBANE - The Queensland Police Union yesterday launched a series of radio advertisements attacking the state Government over political interference in the case of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.
Hurley was found not guilty on Wednesday in the Townsville Supreme Court of the manslaughter and assault of 36-year-old Mulrunji Doomadgee at the Palm Island police watchhouse in November 2004.
Hurley, who has declined to comment since being cleared, has been reinstated and is on leave before he takes up a role in the Gold Coast police headquarters.
Doomadgee's family is considering filing a civil suit, under which Hurley, the police service or the state Government could be forced to pay restitution or punitive damages.
The police union is concerned that the prosecution only went ahead because the Government sought a second opinion on whether to charge Hurley over the death.
It followed public outcry after the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare decided not to go ahead with charges, declaring the death a "tragic accident".
One of the union radio advertisements compares Queensland to the troubled African nation of Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabwe is a good example of what could happen where politicians override the laws to suit themselves," the ad says.
- AAP
