David Dungay prison officer didn't want to 'inflame' situation by calling hospital

'Correctional Officer E' told an inquest he asked a second guard to try and get the diabetic inmate to hand over food instead of contacting medical staff.

Leetona Dungay

David Dungay's mother Leetona outside the Downing Centre court in Sydney. (AAP) Source: AAP

A prison officer says he didn't want to "inflame" a tense situation by contacting prison hospital staff  refused to hand over biscuits, an inquest has heard.

Correctional Officer E, who can't be named for legal reasons, gave evidence on Tuesday at the , who was restrained by multiple officers at Sydney's Long Bay Hospital in December 2015.

The officer told the court he had no luck getting Mr Dungay to pass a packet of rice crackers out of his cell so asked another Corrective Services NSW officer to persuade him.

Officer E took this course of action rather than contacting Justice Health staff despite conceding "there was no security threat" and it was purely a medical issue.
Justice activist Dylan Voller told the media outside Downing Centre Court that he "broke down" after seeing the images showing the death of Mr Dungay.





The former NT youth detainee has been supporting the Dungay family and has called for more transparency in the justice system

"Some of these guys need to get up and take responsibility and tell the truth," Mr Voller said.

"It’s a fight for justice, and there are a lot of people out here and a lot of us aren’t willing to stop until there is justice because it continues to happen."

"It just has to stop, we’re losing too many black brothers and sisters in custody."  

With AAP


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Published 17 July 2018 4:42pm


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