Whats that burning

Frying of Ian Ward
Ian Ward (the deceased) was a 46 year old Aboriginal male who died on 27 January 2008 at Kalgoorlie District Hospital, Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia At the time of his death the deceased was in custody, having been arrested by police in relation to traffic offences while driving a Toyota Personnel Carrier on Alderstone Street, Laverton, at about 9:30pm on Saturday 26 January 2008.

The following day the deceased was transported by employees of GSL Custodial Services Pty Ltd (GSL) in the back section of a van. The van was a Mazda E2500 vehicle registration number 1APR-049 The deceased was transported in the vehicle from Laverton to Kalgoorlie, a distance of approximately 360 kilometres. The deceased was taken on a journey of approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes on an extremely hot day with the outside temperatures being over 40oC. With no working air Conditioning

Evidence at the inquest subsequently revealed that the burn had been caused by contact between the deceased’s flesh and the metal steel pod in which he had been held in custody. At the hospital, Dr Lucien Lagrange, stated that as he opened the doors to the pod, although external conditions were very hot, the air from the van was "…like a blast from a furnace"
Based on the pathology evidence, there is no doubt that the deceased died as a result of being subjected to conditions of grossly excessive heat over an extended period of time. It is now clear that the deceased suffered a terrible death while in custody which was wholly unnecessary and avoidable.

Both Ms Stokoe and Mr Powell were contacted by telephone by Ms Jenkins late on the evening of 26 January 2008 and asked to transport a prisoner from Laverton to Kalgoorlie on the following day. They were to be paid at double time for working on a Sunday.

In would be within reason to assume both Ms. Stoke and Mr Powell had a duty of care towards Mr. Wards. As Mr Powell had been an insurance assessor for motor vehicles for 25 years, of the two, Mr Powell was far more experienced as a custodial officer as he had worked for either AIMS or GSL since 2001 and had been a supervisor for a period of time in 2003-4. Ms Stokoe had worked for GSL since April 2007. This was the first occasion on which she had worked as a custodial officer. She had previously worked as an industrial paramedic on a mine site and had some training qualifications to perform that role.

Time and experience has shown, that people given power over others, be it Police, custodial officer or others will at times abuser this authority, I personal feel that the W.A. courts should act according in punishing Mr. Powell and Ms. Stokes, as to show our public servants that this sort of conduct is no longer expectable by the majority of Australian’s.