Cleveland Dodd: ‘Grave concern’ that deadlines will not be met for inquest into teen’s Unit 18 death
Key points:
- Lawyers for the family of Cleveland Dodd have “grave concern” that reports from various authorities will not be ready in time for the start of the inquest into the teenager’s jailhouse death.
- Cleveland was just 16 when he took his own life while in custody in the infamous Unit 18.
- It was revealed that various authorities including the Department of Justice are scrambling to have reports completed in time to be considered before the inquest’s opening day.
Lawyers for the family of Cleveland Dodd have “grave concern” that reports from various authorities will not be ready in time for the start of the inquest into the teenager’s jailhouse death.
Cleveland was just 16 when he took his own life while in custody in the infamous Unit 18, prompting an expedited inquest to be arranged by the WA Coroner.
That hearing is scheduled to begin on April 3.
But, in a preparatory hearing before coroner Phil Urquhart on Monday, it was revealed that various authorities including the Department of Justice are scrambling to have reports completed in time to be considered before the inquest’s opening day.
Included in those reports is a compilation from the Department of Justice’s Professional Standards Division about disciplinary processes that have happened since Cleveland’s death.
Lawyer David Harwood, from the State Solicitor’s Office, revealed those disciplinary processes had been impacted by some staff being on worker’s compensation leave.
And he said other reports, including those from the Department of Corrective Services’ health services division, and confirmation of how long Cleveland was locked in his cell before his death, were still being worked on.
Mr Urquhart has requested all material be submitted by March 15.
Dodd family lawyer Stephen Penglis said he now had “grave concern” those deadlines will be missed.
“None of that fills me with confidence,” he said.
It has previously been alleged that one of the officers on guard when Cleveland took his own life was asleep when concerns were raised.
Back in October, the Department of Justice on Tuesday confirmed at least one “staff member” had been suspended pending the outcome of an internal inquiry.
And eventually, Commissioner Mike Reynolds was axed, as part of what was described as a major “reset” of both the culture and leadership of the Department of Corrective Services.
Mr Reynolds was replaced by long-time assistant police commissioner Brad Royce.
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