Australia: Too many open questions: Stephen Wardle's death in police custody

Index Number: ASA 12/013/1996
Date Published: 16 October 1996
Categories: Asia And The Pacific, Australia

Stephen Wardle died, aged 18, within hours of his arrest on suspicion of drunkenness on the night of 1 February 1988. Amnesty International is concerned that many suspicious circumstances surrounding the death in police custody of Stephen Wardle have never been fully and independently investigated. This concern is heightened by alleged police harassment and intimidation of his family following media reports about the findings of a coronial inquest. Amnesty International believes that Stephen Wardle may have been ill-treated in custody and that he was subject to lack of care to such degree that it constituted cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment which had fatal consequences.