MEDIA ALERT

When: 9:30 am, Friday 22 July 2022

Where: Lidcombe Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex

What: A smoking ceremony will take place at the court followed by delivery of coronial inquest findings by Deputy State Coroner, Joan Baptie.

Roughly 30 minutes after court is adjourned, Ruby Dykes (Mootijah’s cousin and senior next of kin) will deliver a brief statement for media outside the court. Ms Dykes and Jeremy Styles (Managing Advocate, Aboriginal Legal Service) will be available to answer questions.

Budjiti and Murrawarri man Douglas ‘Mootijah’ Shillingsworth died in custody on 15 February 2018. He was a son, a brother, a father, a nephew and a cousin.

A coronial inquest into his death was held on 4-5 April 2022, during which the court heard that Mootijah most likely died of a brain abscess caused by an untreated ear infection. Deputy Coroner Baptie is expected to formally announce Mootijah’s cause and manner of death when delivering findings on Friday. The findings will consider the treatment he received in custody.

ENDS

Media contact: Alyssa Robinson - [email protected] / 0427 346 017