Joshua Kerr's mother Aunty Donnas Kerr demanded inquest findings be implemented in all prisons.
For 16 minutes an Indigenous man was left unconscious in his prison cell before dying, in what his mother describes as a system lacking care and compassion for human life. A series of missed opportunities culminated in the preventable death of 32-year-old Yorta Yorta and Gunaikurani man Joshua Kerr who likely died from cardiac arrhythmia or a seizure after ingesting a significant amount of meth, Victorian coroner David Ryan said in inquest findings on Monday.
It took 16 minutes from when he was discovered unconscious for his cell door to be opened as prison staff waited for TOG officers. Kerr was pronounced dead at 8.40pm. Outside court, Kerr's mother Aunty Donnas Kerr demanded the coroner's findings be urgently implemented in all prisons. "The coroner found that the correctional and medical staff at the prison should have known my son was dying," she said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Death in custody of 23yo Aboriginal man in Port Lincoln Prison 'preventable'The lawyer who represented the family of the last Aboriginal death at Port Lincoln Prison 21 years ago says he is concerned SA jail cells have not been made safe despite multiple recommendations in the past.
Read more »
Flawed protocols meant staff watched as Aboriginal man died in Victorian prison cell, coroner findsIn findings delivered on Monday, Coroner David Ryan identifies numerous failures in the lead-up to the death of 32-year-old Josh Kerr at Port Phillip Prison on August 10, 2022.
Read more »
Prison lacked care for Aboriginal life, mum says, as coroner rules her son could have livedFor 16 minutes an Indigenous man was left unconscious in his prison cell before dying, in what his mother describes as a system lacking care and compassion for human life.
Read more »
Prison watchdog finds West Kimberley Regional Prison under pressure amid overcrowding, staff shortageAn independent report into West Kimberley Regional Prison has found staff shortages, crowding and inequity for female prisoners has had a significant impact on its operations.
Read more »
‘I’m dying’: Indigenous man Joshua Kerr lay unconscious while Victorian prison guards waited for police, inquest findsCoroner says death at Port Phillip prison was preventable and the result of a series of missed opportunities
Read more »
Remote Aboriginal communities to be consulted over alcohol bans, developing social clubsThe NT government has outlined its road map for Territorians to 'learn to live with alcohol', meaning long-standing bans could soon be overturned.
Read more »