SAother

Coroner's Finding: CURREN Michael Andrew

Deceased

Michael Andrew Curren

Demographics

38y, male

Date of death

1998-06-10

Finding date

2000-06-16

Cause of death

neck compression due to hanging

AI-generated summary

Michael Andrew Curren, a 38-year-old prisoner at Mobilong Prison, died by hanging on 10 June 1998. He had been assaulted five days earlier and attended medical review on the day of death, but presented as being in good spirits with no apparent suicidal ideation. Prison staff observed nothing unusual. The coroner found no suspicious circumstances and concluded the death was suicide. Key clinical lesson: inmates presenting with injuries and psychological stress require heightened vigilance for suicide risk, particularly when subtle behavioral changes may be missed in institutional settings. The investigation revealed significant delays and inadequacies in police investigation protocols for deaths in custody.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Error types

communicationsystem

Drugs involved

paracetamolsleeping tablet

Clinical conditions

facial contusions and lacerationviral illnessheadaches

Contributing factors

alleged assault on 5 June 1998
possible dispute with other prisoners
possible threat from another prisoner on morning of death
possible concern about brain damage from injury
lack of adequate follow-up assessment for depression or suicide risk

Coroner's recommendations

Chief Executive Officer, Department for Correctional Services to consider changing air-conditioning vents at Mobilong Prison to collapsible type so they would not support weight of prisoner, subject to security considerations
Police officers to follow Recommendation 35 of Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which requires investigations into deaths in custody to be approached on basis that death may be homicide and suicide should never be presumed
Correctional officers reminded to comply with Standard Operating Procedures in all circumstances, including calling Code Black when appropriate

Full text

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