NT: Anger rises as family mourns death of young detainee

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2000
NT: Anger rises as family mourns death of young detainee

A minute's silence has been called outside Darwin Magistrates Court to mourn the death
of a 15-year old Aboriginal boy who died in custody yesterday.

The Groote Eylandt boy's death has sparked outrage from critics of the Northern Territory's
mandatory sentencing laws.

He was serving a 28-day jail term after a string of minor property offences.

Aboriginal elders are concerned that other young men from the town might imitate the
boy's suicide.

JOHN WELUK of the Miwatj Regional Council of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission said he boy should have been punished according to Aboriginal customs.

He said government laws had taken away the Aboriginal community's responsibilities
and he described the death as avoidable.

AAP RTV cm/sw/gmw/jn

KEYWORD: MANDATORY MEMORIAL (DARWIN)

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