Northern Territory Police will provide a report to the Minister and the Coroner following yesterday's Coronial findings into two reportable deaths in Darwin.

Acting Commisioner Bruce Wernham issued the following statement after having had an opportunity to consider the Coroner's report into the death of Mr Bob Plasto and Mr David Gurralpa, which was handed down yesterday:

"The recommendations made by the Coroner will be actioned and a report provided to the Minister and the Coroner in due course about how those recommendations have been dealt with," Acting Commissioner Wernham said.

"Our condolences go out to both families, who have lost a loved one in these two tragic events.

"In regard to Mr Gurralpa the Coroner found that the members had 'gone about their duties in accordance with their training' and 'They had no real alternative to restrain him in the way they did.'

"In so far as the actions of the members involved with Mr Plasto on that tragic day are concerned, I wish to quote from the Coroner's Findings:

'In making these findings, I fully acknowledge that the police involved in the use of force incident had to make split-second decisions in difficult circumstances. They did not have the luxury, as the lawyers and myself have, to deliberate for hours or days over what option to take.'

"And he also said:

'Finally, I accept that the decision to use force was not made for any malicious reason. The police honestly believed that what they were doing was necessary.'

"Having had some involvement in oversighting the investigation and the subsequent report to the Coroner, I can confidently state that the members of the police force present on that day were doing a difficult job to the best of their abilities. They continue to have my confidence as they go about their duties.

"As in all of these types of events the Police Force is more than willing to carefully examine what happened and to learn what can be learned so that we can do what is a very difficult and complex job, better in the future."




Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
8922 3531