{"id":495663,"date":"2026-01-06T04:23:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T04:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/495663\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T04:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T04:23:13","slug":"aboriginal-mother-of-five-identified-after-death-in-nt-police-watch-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/495663\/","title":{"rendered":"Aboriginal mother of five identified after death in NT police watch house"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\"><strong>WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the name of an Aboriginal woman who has died.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">An Aboriginal mother who recently died in police custody has been named publicly, as lawyers for her family call on the government to take accountability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Kumanjayi Dempsey, 44, was the mother of five children \u2014 the youngest being around five years old.<\/p>\n<p>If you or anyone you know needs help:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suicide Call Back Service<\/a> on 1300 659 467<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lifeline.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lifeline<\/a> on 13 11 14<\/li>\n<li>Aboriginal &amp; Torres Strait Islander crisis support line <a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.13yarn.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">13YARN<\/a>\u00a0on 13 92 76<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kidshelp.com.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kids Helpline<\/a> on 1800 551 800<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondblue.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beyond Blue<\/a> on 1300 224 636<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/headspace.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Headspace<\/a> on 1800 650 890<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/au.reachout.com\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ReachOut<\/a> at <a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/au.reachout.com\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">au.reachout.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mensline.org.au\/Home.html\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MensLine Australia<\/a> on 1300 789 978<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sane.org\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SANE<\/a>\u00a0on 1800 187 263<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Dempsey was from north-west Queensland but moved as a young woman to her partner&#8217;s town, Tennant Creek, where she lived until her death in late December.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Loved ones have described her as <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-01-02\/nt-tennant-creek-death-in-custody-aboriginal-mother-autopsy\/106184290\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106184290\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a devoted mother who was respectful, friendly and bubbly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In a statement, Sydney-based law firm O&#8217;Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors said it was acting for Ms Dempsey&#8217;s family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;We extend our sincere condolences to Kumanjayi&#8217;s family, friends and loved ones and ask that their privacy be respected during this trying time,&#8221; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Dempsey was arrested for aggravated assault on Christmas Day and <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-12-28\/tennant-creek-death-in-custody-medical-episode-no-nurse-on-duty\/106182578\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106182578\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spent two days in the Tennant Creek watch house before her death<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Floral tributes line a police station railing alongside the words: POLICE ONLY, NO UNAUTHORISED ENTRY\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/7c1c4f142cf9d0e10632aa44b32df91a.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The community is grieving the NT&#8217;s most recent death in custody, which occurred in late December. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">NT police said CCTV footage showed her falling to the ground just after a routine cell check at 12:34pm, and she was discovered during the next check almost half an hour later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Multiple sources confirmed she suffered <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-07-24\/nt-rheumatic-heart-disease-medicine-shortage-bicillin\/105563224\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/105563224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rheumatic heart disease<\/a> \u2014 which is a potentially deadly heart condition caused by repeated streptococcal infections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">But police said Ms Dempsey did not disclose this during a medical assessment as she was taken into custody.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">NT Police believe she suffered a &#8220;medical incident&#8221;, but a pathologist is <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-01-05\/nt-tennant-creek-watch-house-death-in-custody-post-mortem-result\/106199844\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106199844\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">awaiting the results of toxicology testing to confirm her cause of death<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Metal railing at entrance to Tennant Creek Police Station with 11 bunches of various flowers tied to the railing. \" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4471a4f6fe46f64ea90ca11ac478f168.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">In the wake of the woman&#8217;s death in custody, floral tributes were left along railings outside Tennant Creek Police Station. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The NT government had begun stationing nursing staff at watch houses in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs following a recommendation made by a coronial inquest more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">However, no such position was introduced in Tennant Creek.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Dempsey was the 34th Aboriginal person to die in custody in 2025, and the fourth person to die in custody in the NT.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A close-up of purple flowers that have been left in tribute outside a police station.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/edc4f3344d63993a1569fa705a31ac3c.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Kumanjayi Dempsey died in police custody, two days after being arrested. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In their statement, O&#8217;Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors described those figures as &#8220;a devastating indictment of systemic failure&#8221; and said the NT government must be held accountable.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;We are concerned about the ongoing inadequacy of the conditions of cells in Tennant Creek watch house, and Northern Territory detention facilities more broadly,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  the statement said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;Kumanjayi&#8217;s death is particularly harrowing given the NT government&#8217;s <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-12-10\/nt-un-denied-visit-to-prisons-clp-finocchiaro-government-jails\/106121438\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106121438\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent refusal to allow the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention<\/a> to conduct its scheduled <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-12-13\/united-nations-warn-australia-prison-detention-human-rights\/106136950\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106136950\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">inspection of Northern Territory detention centres, including watch houses<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In response to the lawyers&#8217; statement, an NT government spokesperson said the NT Police Force \u2014 including its Professional Standards Command \u2014 were conducting an active investigation, with a report being prepared for the NT coroner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the name of an Aboriginal woman&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":495664,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[223011,4740,223004,60323,202521,223006,223008,223010,223009,50,13263,134036,204842,223013,215227,223007,223005,223012],"class_list":{"0":"post-495663","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-assault-arrest","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-black-death-in-custody","11":"tag-death-in-custody","12":"tag-deaths-in-custody","13":"tag-indigenous-woman","14":"tag-kumanjayi-dempsey","15":"tag-kumanjayi-dempsey-death","16":"tag-ms-dempsey","17":"tag-news","18":"tag-nt","19":"tag-police-custody","20":"tag-police-watch-house","21":"tag-rheumatic-heart-disease","22":"tag-tennant-creek","23":"tag-tennant-creek-death","24":"tag-tennant-creek-death-in-custody","25":"tag-watch-house"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115846250889026273","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/495663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=495663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/495663\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/495664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=495663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=495663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=495663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}