Like a King

When Mulrunji Doomadgee died in police custody on Palm Island in 2004 it sparked riots which climaxed with locals burning the police station. I'll give you the hot tip, they're gonna be fucking pissed when they find out about the most recent developments.

For those of you who have no idea what this is about the facts of the case were basically as follows:

- A black dude called Mulrunji was staggering down the street on Palm Island, clearly the worse for drink, bellowing obscenities and generally being a bit of a cunt.

- A white cop called Chris Hurley arrested Mulrunji for public drunkenness, which in an aboriginal community like Palm Island is a bit redundant, but fair enough.

- Mulrunji struggled a bit and punched Sgt Hurley.

- Hurley lost his rag and belted the blue bejeesus out of Mulrunji, striking him several times while he was on the floor.

- Mulrunji got thrown in a cell and left there. A few hours later he was dead.

- Police made no attempt to check Mulrunji's condition after the bashing. Video footage from this time shows Mulrunji writhing on the floor of his cell crying out for help.

- Police only checked on Mulrunji when a second officer noticed Mulrunji had been quiet for some time and suspected that something might be wrong.

- No attempt was made to resuscitate Mulrunji even when it was uncertain whether he was actually dead.

- An autopsy revealed that Mulrunji had suffered four broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and a liver almost split in half.

- A coroner's inquest ruled that the fatal injuries were caused by the bashing from Sgt Hurley.

- The Director of Public Prosecutions today decided not to press charges against Hurley saying it wasn't the bashing but rather a fall that caused the fatal injuries.

What the fuck?

It has been previously reported that Hurley and Mulrunji fell through the doorway of the watchhouse while scuffling but come on, four broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and a liver dangling by a thread...Must have been quite a fall.

Look, I'm even willing to withhold judgement on the liver thing because I doubt oldmate's liver was in match condition in the first place but seriously, those are pretty serious injuries for a bloke who fell through a doorway.

The coroner (who you one might think is something of an authority on such matters) found this guy died as a result of injuries caused by getting the shit kicked out of him. Now the DPP says there isn't enough evidence to charge him with ANYTHING. Not even assault.

Either way, I would not want to be a cop on Palm Island when the locals find out about this. Not for all tea in China.

Actually, come to think of it, those guys will probably have a ball. After all, they now have confirmation that they can kill black guys without fear of prosecution.

Heavy Kevvie, too smart to be Prime Minister?

So it finally happened. Yesterday Kevin Rudd was elected leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, replacing likeable no-hoper and long serving fat bastard Kim Beazley. On what can only be described as an absolute cunt of a day for the big man, he not only lost the top job in the ALP but moments later found out his younger brother David had died. Poor bastard probably got a parking ticket too, but I digress.

On talkback radio this afternoon the usual pundits and commentators discussed Rudd's background, including his time as an ambassador and made mention of his fluency in Mandarin Chinese. Also under discussion was Rudd's familiarity with the issues of the day which was contrasted with his perceived lack of personality. All pretty standard boring stuff. They open up the lines to callers and the regular parade of mouth breathers and fuckwits come out to play. One in particular caught my attention. This baby boomer fishwife with a voice like the mum from The Castle declared that she had never liked "Kevin Ruddock" because he seemed like a know it all and a smart aleck...

Whether or not she had actually managed to confuse a man who looks like Harry Potter (Rudd) with a man who looks like Monty Burns (Philip Ruddock), is unclear. That point aside, what this woman represents, is a perfect example of the sort of knob fondling anti-intellectualism embraced by so many in this country. What is it about the proverbial "man in the street" that makes them see the intelligence of another as some sort of personal affront?

This is exactly the type of idiot you see holding court at a BBQ, secure in the the self appointed authority of someone who has spent their life "raising three beautiful children" and who therefore "knows a thing or two".

Look, I'm sure you're a fucking whizz at packing a lunchbox and your knowledge of Playschool is probably second to none but the fact that someone has an education that extended beyond their fifteenth birthday is not a good enough reason to view them with mistrust or suspicion.

Reporter: Excuse me Madam, who will you be voting for as the leader of our nation?

Bint: Not that bloke. He seems too smart.

For fuck's sake.