A pre-inquest conference into the death in custody of a 51-year-old Indigenous man in the remote Cape York town of Kowanyama has heard the man was engaging in an act of self-harm and was not checked on by police for more than an hour before he was found unresponsive.
The small Kowanyama courtroom was packed on Thursday morning with family, friends and senior community members.
The conference session heard the man, named for cultural reasons as Mr George, was arrested by police on November 9, 2022 after reports of a domestic violence incident.
Counsel assisting the Coroner Melia Benn told the court Mr George was placed in a cell at the watchhouse at 1.21pm.
She said CCTV footage showed him engaging in an act of self-harm.
"Mr George fell back onto the risen built-in concrete bed and laid there until police checked on him, approximately one hour and 14 minutes later," she said.
She said the officers in the watchhouse then began CPR and the Kowanyama medical services were alerted and attended the watchhouse, but Mr George was unable to be revived.
At the end of proceedings, Mr George's sister, Gwynette George, spoke to the court through sobs.
"He was a very happy man," she said.
"I miss him … I sit and cry every morning."
She said all of the family and greater Kowanyama community had been affected.
"I'm just asking for answers," she said.
Before proceedings began, State Coroner, Magistrate Terry Ryan, said there had been a cultural ceremony in the watchhouse cell and acknowledged several community leaders who sat at the front of the courtroom.
Another pre-inquest conference is expected in Kowanyama.
An autopsy and reports from the Ethical Standards Command are still to be submitted.
