Mystery over police role in Town Hall Woolworths death

The NSW Police Force (NSWPF) has declined to answer questions relating to the death of a man who was found lying on the floor of the Woolworth’s Town Hall store in Sydney’s CBD.

Four police officers have been questioned in relation to the death of the man, which senior police have declared a “critical incident” – but police are refusing to say why the officers were questioned or what the man died of.

According to a NSWPF media statement issued last Monday, a 73-year-old man was located on the floor of the George St supermarket at approximately 11am on Tuesday, April 30.

Ambulance officers attended the scene, and the man was transported to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, where he underwent surgery for a hip injury.

The man’s health subsequently deteriorated and he died at about 8.30pm on Monday, May 6 of unspecified causes.

The statement said four police officers had been interviewed in relation to the man’s death, and that investigating officers would also like to speak to a woman of Asian appearance, who may be able to assist them in their inquiries.

The woman is described as being of Asian appearance with long dark, straight hair, and was wearing a dark, sleeveless ‘scoop necked’ dress and carrying a large handbag.

NSW Police this week declined to answer a series of questions posed about the incident, releasing only a short statement in reply.

“Police inquiries into this critical incident continue. We are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward,” said a NSWPF spokesperson.

Cameron Murphy, President of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, and longtime advocate of greater transparency in policing, said the NSWPF routinely suppressed information from the public, for operational and PR reasons.

“It may be that there’s an operational reason for this, or it may be that they want to suppress information because it would depict police in a bad light,” said Mr Murphy.

“I suspect there won’t be any answers until the Coroner releases a report into the man’s death, probably in a few months’ time.”

The unusual case follows the involvement of NSW Police in several bashings and deaths which are currently being scrutinised on several fronts.

Last week, the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) recommended that unspecified charges be brought against police officers involved in the death of Brazilian national Roberto Laudisio Curti, who died on March 18 last year, after a group of police officers tasered him up to 14 times and used capsicum spray, handcuffs, batons and knelt on him after a chase through the Sydney CBD.

21-year-old Mr Curti had taken a small quantity of LSD and stole two packets of biscuits from a convenience store.

Police were also accused of using excessive force at the University of Sydney last month, during protests against the Federal Government’s university funding cuts.

Several protestors were injured during scuffles with police, including one student who sustained a broken leg.

Meanwhile, investigations into the alleged bashing of Bryn Hutchinson and Jamie Reed (AKA Jamie Jackson) by police at the 2013 Sydney Mardi Gras Parade have yet to be finalised.

“The investigation by the Professional Standards Command is continuing,” said a NSWPF spokesperson this week.