Victorian coroner finds unjustified police pursuit resulted in death of Aboriginal man theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Raymond Noel’s parents, Aunty Debbie and Uncle Ray said: “Every day since Raymond Noel died has been very difficult for us. We have wanted our day in court for so long, but we know that it will be painful time and we hope that we finally get some answers.
“As Aboriginal people, we live with the fear of how racism will affect us every day”, Auntie they said. “Being harassed or mistreated by police is one of our greatest fears and our hearts are broken because that fear became reality for our son.”
VALS said previous coronial inquests and investigations had criticised Victoria Police for its car chases. It said it hopes the inquest into Raymond Noel’s tragic death will provide a fresh opportunity to examine the police’s pursuit procedures.
Raymond Noel Lindsay Thomas father has called for changes in Victoria Police pursuit policy before the final day of his son s inquest.
The Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man was killed just 21 seconds after the start of a high-speed police chase through suburban Melbourne.
He was thrown from his car after colliding with parked cars and an oncoming vehicle in June 2017.
His father, Ray, said the 30-year-old wasn t drunk or high on drugs - he had been on way his to buy cake mix and some chocolate from the supermarket in an unregistered car. We demand justice for Raymond and hope for changes of the police pursuit policies, so this doesn t happen to any other family, Mr Thomas told reporters outside the Coroners Court on Friday.
An urgent warning has been issued to parents after four children died in a year from getting their necks stuck in roller blind cords.
The latest incident was a four-year-old girl whose neck got stuck while playing in her bedroom with her sister in October last year.
Ten children have died in Australia in the past decade after accidentally being strangled by a roller blind cord.
The young girl s death is the fourth in just 12 months, leading to an urgent warning to parents to be more vigilant.
The latest incident was a four-year-old girl whose neck got stuck in the roller blind cord while playing in her bedroom (stock image)