Qld: Palm rioters given bail but banned from funeral

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2004
Qld: Palm rioters given bail but banned from funeral

By Ainsley Pavey

TOWNSVILLE, Qld, Dec 6 AAP - Nineteen men given bail in a Queensland court today over
the Palm Island riot were banned from the funeral of the man whose death in custody sparked
the rampage.

Queensland's Chief Magistrate Marshall Irwin granted bail with strict conditions against
the group, including a total ban on visiting the north Queensland island which erupted
in the wake of the death of Cameron Doomadgee.

The Queensland Police Union tonight branded the decision "appalling".

Acting union president Denis Fitzpatrick accused Judge Irwin of putting the safety
of Queenslanders last.

Applause erupted in Townsville's District Court as Judge Irwin announced he was releasing
the alleged ringleader of the riot.

Father-of-five Lex Patrick Wotton, 37, was described in court as a leader and saviour
for the Palm Island community.

He was given bail despite police prosecutors arguing he had led a 300-strong crowd
against police on November 26.

Judge Irwin released Wotton - who is accused of lighting the fire which destroyed the
island's police station, barracks and court house - until a committal mention on March
10 next year.

Wotton faces three charges each of arson and serious assault of police and one of destroying
a building during a riot - which carries a maximum life sentence under Queensland law.

He is on strict bail conditions, including a night-time curfew, daily reporting to
police, an order to face the city's Aboriginal justice group and to be on his doorstep
at police request.

Wotton also was banned from attending any rallies or marches over the death in custody
and cannot leave Townsville without police permission until his trial.

Judge Irwin told the hearing it was "unfortunate" Wotton would miss the funeral as
peers had described him as a "role model".

"He gave up drinking 12 years ago and became a role model for his family and the entire
community who are in great need for men like him to lead them towards a better life,"

Judge Irwin told the court, reading from a reference.

Prosecutor Julia Cook said police were worried as a high-powered semi-automatic rifle
was still missing from the remains of the police barracks.

"Palm Island is known as a place where persons can hide in the hills to evade capture
for extended periods of time," Snr Sgt Cook told the court.

The police detailed graphic allegations of the riot for the first time today, claiming
the officer-in-charge's dog had to be destroyed after suffering injuries and distress.

Snr Sgt Cook said Wotton led a crowd to the police station after a community meeting
at midday on the day of the riot.

She alleged he came armed with two monkey wrenches which he used to smash the windows
of the station while the crowd hurled rocks and yelled racial abuse.

Ten officers inside blocked the windows and doors with a filing cabinet and table.

"The police officers inside were in fear for their lives," Snr Sgt Cook said.

She said they fled the station and barricaded themselves in a garage in the barracks
with 10 other police officers who had been on the night shift.

They fashioned weapons out of pool cues, upended the pool table to block the door and
used mattresses to cover the windows as rocks were pelted at the building, she said.

Wotton allegedly used petrol to torch a police car at the station.

Snr Sgt Cook said senior police tried to calm the crowd but were given an hour to leave
the island by Wotton who warned they would be killed and "everything burnt".

She said they then fled to the hospital, with the crowd in pursuit, and were forced
to wait for police reinforcements from the mainland while rocks were thrown at the building.

Police allege Wotton turned off the water mains, but he denied the claims today.

The other accused rioters in court today were: David Shane Shepherd, 26, Darren Brian
Johnson, 38, Robert Terrence Nugent, 22, Cedric William Barry, 20, Garrison Brian Sibley,
26, John Major Clumpoint, 40, Lance Gabriel Poynter, 34, Shane Wallace Robertson, 26,
Lester Kenneth Parkinson, 26, Lincon (Lincon) Hector Poynter, 43, David John Bulsey, 52,
Russell Wayne Parker, 30, Richard James Poynter, 32, William Neville Blackmann, 36, Terrence
Kidner, 21, Jason Richard Poynter, 26, Dwayne Daniel Blanket, 26, a juvenile male, 14.

They also were remanded to appear on March 10 next year.

AAP ap/sc/cdh/de

KEYWORD: PALM 2ND NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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