‘Justice For Jeffrey’: Family Pushes For Answers at Coronial Inquest
The coronial inquest into the death of the First Nations man has concluded
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Mob
A coronial inquest into the death in custody of proud Noongar man Jeffrey Winmar has ended after two weeks of hearings.
Jeffrey was 28-years-old when he was arrested by Victoria Police detectives on 9 November 2023 following a pursuit which involved the canine unit and a drone.
He fell unconscious upon being arrested, but an ambulance was cancelled on two occasions by police after he came to.
Jeffrey was then taken to hospital with serious injuries and never recovered, passing away two days later on 11 November, 2023.
The inquest into Jeffrey’s death began in early April and ran for two weeks. It heard from a number of police officers involved with Jeffrey’s arrest, medical professionals and Jeffrey’s family.
It looked into the tactics used in the police pursuit of Jeffrey and his arrest, the use of a police dog, what happened after his arrest and the healthcare provided to him.
Jeffrey’s family traveled to Victoria from Western Australia to attend each day of the inquest.
Jeffrey’s mother, Ursulla Winmar, said she was looking for justice for her son.
“We should not have had to come this far to seek the truth,” Winmar said in a statement.
“Until this country properly accounts for First Nations deaths in custody – and until those responsible for their care are genuinely held to account – there will be more Jeffreys. More mothers like me. More broken homes like ours.”
Jeffrey’s family addressed the Coroner’s Court on the final day of the hearings.
“I haven’t felt like this inquest understands how police treat Aboriginal people and our and Jeff’s history with police,” Jeffrey’s father, Jeffrey ‘Pep’ Anderson said.
“My whole life I’ve seen the cops target Aboriginal people.”
Pep’s brother’s son, Jordan Anderson, died at Hakea prison in WA, and in 2022 his cousin’s son Ricky-Lee Cound died at the same prison.
“The police and prisons are killing us,” Pep said. “And no one seems to be taking it seriously.”
Jeffrey’s family described him as loveable, “happy-go-lucky” with an infectious smile that lit up the room.
“He was a beacon of positivity,” Jeffrey’s father said in a statement.
“Jeff would bring the family together in a way that no-one else could.”
Jeffrey’s mother said that he would also be checking up on his family.
“He had so much love to give,” Ursulla Winmar said.
“For his younger siblings, he was a protector and a guide, helping shape them to be better people, to be ready to face the world.”
Jeffrey’s father Pep said he hopes the truth comes out in the coroner’s final report.
“We’ll rest easier and I know he’ll rest easier knowing the truth about what happened,” Pep said.
“Just knowing can prevent Aboriginal people from being hurt in the future. We need people to stand with us. Change is what we’re talking about.”
A coronial inquest into the death in custody of proud Noongar man Jeffrey Winmar has ended after two weeks of hearings.
Jeffrey was 28-years-old when he was arrested by Victoria Police detectives on 9 November 2023 following a pursuit which involved the canine unit and a drone.
He fell unconscious upon being arrested, but an ambulance was cancelled on two occasions by police after he came to.
Jeffrey was then taken to hospital with serious injuries and never recovered, passing away two days later on 11 November, 2023.
The inquest into Jeffrey’s death began in early April and ran for two weeks. It heard from a number of police officers involved with Jeffrey’s arrest, medical professionals and Jeffrey’s family.
It looked into the tactics used in the police pursuit of Jeffrey and his arrest, the use of a police dog, what happened after his arrest and the healthcare provided to him.
Jeffrey’s family traveled to Victoria from Western Australia to attend each day of the inquest.
Jeffrey’s mother, Ursulla Winmar, said she was looking for justice for her son.
“We should not have had to come this far to seek the truth,” Winmar said in a statement.
“Until this country properly accounts for First Nations deaths in custody – and until those responsible for their care are genuinely held to account – there will be more Jeffreys. More mothers like me. More broken homes like ours.”
Jeffrey’s family addressed the Coroner’s Court on the final day of the hearings.
“I haven’t felt like this inquest understands how police treat Aboriginal people and our and Jeff’s history with police,” Jeffrey’s father, Jeffrey ‘Pep’ Anderson said.
“My whole life I’ve seen the cops target Aboriginal people.”
Pep’s brother’s son, Jordan Anderson, died at Hakea prison in WA, and in 2022 his cousin’s son Ricky-Lee Cound died at the same prison.
“The police and prisons are killing us,” Pep said. “And no one seems to be taking it seriously.”
Jeffrey’s family described him as loveable, “happy-go-lucky” with an infectious smile that lit up the room.
“He was a beacon of positivity,” Jeffrey’s father said in a statement.
“Jeff would bring the family together in a way that no-one else could.”
Jeffrey’s mother said that he would also be checking up on his family.
“He had so much love to give,” Ursulla Winmar said.
“For his younger siblings, he was a protector and a guide, helping shape them to be better people, to be ready to face the world.”
Jeffrey’s father Pep said he hopes the truth comes out in the coroner’s final report.
“We’ll rest easier and I know he’ll rest easier knowing the truth about what happened,” Pep said.
“Just knowing can prevent Aboriginal people from being hurt in the future. We need people to stand with us. Change is what we’re talking about.”
Date Published
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