The family of proud Noongar man Jeffrey Winmar have travelled to Victoria to push for answers and justice at a coronial inquest into his death in police custody in late 2023.
Jeffrey was 28-years-old when he was arrested by Victoria Police detectives on 9 November 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 on Monday at the Coroners Court of Victoria, and is expected to run for two weeks.
All 11 Victoria Police members called to give evidence have applied for certificates protecting them from any civil liabilities, such as internal disciplinary proceedings, and said they will refuse to testify if they do not receive them.
The first police officer to give evidence on Monday was granted this immunity.
Counsel Assisting the Coroner said that the inquest would be looking into the manner of the police pursuit of Jeffrey and his arrest, the use of the police canine unit, what happened from his arrest to his transportation to hospital, and the healthcare provided to him.
Members of Jeffrey’s family made statements outside the Coroners Court before the inquest began, calling for answers into what happened to the beloved man.
“I still have a lot of questions about how Jeffrey died,” Jeffrey’s father, Jeffrey Anderson, said in a statement read by his daughter, Rosie.
“I want to know why they used police dogs and when did police notice that Jeff was unwell. I want to know why police cancelled an ambulance for Jeff and what caused his injuries. I was shocked to find out that only one police officer had their body worn camera on and I want to know why more of them didn’t.
“I hope that through the coronial process I will get answers about what happened to my son Jeff. We are devastated by his death.”
The family of proud Noongar man Jeffrey Winmar have travelled to Victoria to push for answers and justice at a coronial inquest into his death in police custody in late 2023.
Jeffrey was 28-years-old when he was arrested by Victoria Police detectives on 9 November 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 on Monday at the Coroners Court of Victoria, and is expected to run for two weeks.
All 11 Victoria Police members called to give evidence have applied for certificates protecting them from any civil liabilities, such as internal disciplinary proceedings, and said they will refuse to testify if they do not receive them.
The first police officer to give evidence on Monday was granted this immunity.
Counsel Assisting the Coroner said that the inquest would be looking into the manner of the police pursuit of Jeffrey and his arrest, the use of the police canine unit, what happened from his arrest to his transportation to hospital, and the healthcare provided to him.
Members of Jeffrey’s family made statements outside the Coroners Court before the inquest began, calling for answers into what happened to the beloved man.
“I still have a lot of questions about how Jeffrey died,” Jeffrey’s father, Jeffrey Anderson, said in a statement read by his daughter, Rosie.
“I want to know why they used police dogs and when did police notice that Jeff was unwell. I want to know why police cancelled an ambulance for Jeff and what caused his injuries. I was shocked to find out that only one police officer had their body worn camera on and I want to know why more of them didn’t.
“I hope that through the coronial process I will get answers about what happened to my son Jeff. We are devastated by his death.”
Jeffrey’s family have come to Victoria from Western Australia to attend each day of the coronial inquest.
Jeffrey’s mother, Ursulla Winmar, said she was looking for justice for her son.
“I want people to be accountable for what happened to him,” Winmar said in a statement.
“We should not have had to come this far to seek the truth. Two years later, we are still in the dark about how he ended up in hospital with internal bleeding and organ failure.
“No mother should have to navigate a coronial inquest to get basic answers. But we are here because the processes that are meant to protect our people and hold systems accountable have failed us.
“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 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.”
Late on Friday last week, counsel for Victoria Police applied to the Coroners Court objecting to their members giving evidence unless they were granted a certificate protecting them from any civil liability, such as internal disciplinary proceedings.
Lawyers representing Jeffrey’s father and mother both argued against this application, with Jeffrey’s father quoted as saying he hoped the inquest was not just ceremonial.
The Coroner agreed to grant the immunity certificate for the first police officer witness.
Dhadjowa Foundation EO Apryl Day said the police application “makes it clear that their priority is protecting themselves, not delivering accountability”.
“The fact that the Canine Unit Officer was granted that protection without resistance shows just how far the coronial process is from delivering truth, justice or accountability for families whose loved ones have died in police custody,” Day said in a statement.
“Police cannot be trusted to investigate themselves. We cannot continue to allow police to absolve police. Without a genuinely independent body with real power, our people will continue to die at the hands of the state.”
The Coroners Court on Monday were shown body-worn camera footage from the canine handler and drone footage from the pursuit and arrest of Jeffrey.
That was the only body worn camera from that day, as the other police officers attending the arrest were detectives and not fitted with these cameras.
There is no footage of what happened following Jeffrey’s arrest after the canine handler left the scene, soon after the arrest.
Jeffrey’s family have come to Victoria from Western Australia to attend each day of the coronial inquest.
Jeffrey’s mother, Ursulla Winmar, said she was looking for justice for her son.
“I want people to be accountable for what happened to him,” Winmar said in a statement.
“We should not have had to come this far to seek the truth. Two years later, we are still in the dark about how he ended up in hospital with internal bleeding and organ failure.
“No mother should have to navigate a coronial inquest to get basic answers. But we are here because the processes that are meant to protect our people and hold systems accountable have failed us.
“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 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.”
Late on Friday last week, counsel for Victoria Police applied to the Coroners Court objecting to their members giving evidence unless they were granted a certificate protecting them from any civil liability, such as internal disciplinary proceedings.
Lawyers representing Jeffrey’s father and mother both argued against this application, with Jeffrey’s father quoted as saying he hoped the inquest was not just ceremonial.
The Coroner agreed to grant the immunity certificate for the first police officer witness.
Dhadjowa Foundation EO Apryl Day said the police application “makes it clear that their priority is protecting themselves, not delivering accountability”.
“The fact that the Canine Unit Officer was granted that protection without resistance shows just how far the coronial process is from delivering truth, justice or accountability for families whose loved ones have died in police custody,” Day said in a statement.
“Police cannot be trusted to investigate themselves. We cannot continue to allow police to absolve police. Without a genuinely independent body with real power, our people will continue to die at the hands of the state.”
The Coroners Court on Monday were shown body-worn camera footage from the canine handler and drone footage from the pursuit and arrest of Jeffrey.
That was the only body worn camera from that day, as the other police officers attending the arrest were detectives and not fitted with these cameras.
There is no footage of what happened following Jeffrey’s arrest after the canine handler left the scene, soon after the arrest.
