Ms Dhu's family get $1.1m ex-gratia payment

Ms Dhu's family get $1.1m ex-gratia payment

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned this article contains images, audio and references to deceased persons.

The family of a 22-year-old Aboriginal woman who died in custody in Western Australia have received a $1.1 million ex-gratia payment.

Attorney-General John Quigley made the announcement at a budget estimates hearing.

Ms Dhu, whose first name is not used for cultural reasons, died in August 2014 after being locked up at South Hedland Police Station for failing to pay fines totalling $3622.

Ms Dhu being loaded into the back of a police van.

Ms Dhu being loaded into the back of a police van.

She died from pneumonia and an infection from a broken rib that went untreated after police officers and medical staff tending to her assumed she was a "junkie" faking her illness.

Coroner Ros Fogliani in December ruled police officers and medical staff disregarded her welfare and right to treatment during her three visits to hospital in as many days.

"The majority of the persons responsible for Ms Dhu's care formed the view that she was exaggerating or feigning symptoms of being unwell," she said.

"On the morning of 4 August 2014 the police assumed that she was feigning her collapse.

"That assumption persisted up until the time the doctors commenced their resuscitation attempts at Hedland Health Campus at 12.45 pm on 4 August 2014."

Harrowing footage of the final moments of Ms Dhu's life was released in December after her family won their fight to "show the world the truth" about how she was treated before her death.

The damning footage, taken between August 2 and 4 at the police station's lock-up and Hedland Health Campus, showed Ms Dhu being dragged from her cell, handcuffed, while paralysed.

She was then hauled, dying, into the back of a police vehicle and either died in transit, or on arrival at hospital.

Her family have long advocated for police officers involved in her mistreatment to face criminal charges, but former Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said investigations into the conduct of the officers revealed no criminality.

Since Ms Dhu's death, WA Police announced it would no longer hold people in custody for unpaid fines.

- with AAP

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