Victorian police have issued an apology to the family of John Makai, a 58‑year‑old father of ten who died in 2023 after being held for five hours in a Broadmeadows police cell without medical treatment for a serious head injury.
The inquest into Makai’s death, held in the Victorian coroner’s court on Monday, revealed footage of the man struggling to stand after being punched in the head by his son. Despite being unresponsive in the cell, Makai was not given medical attention.
Coroner’s evidence showed that Makai suffered a serious head trauma that went untreated, a fact that the police have acknowledged in their apology to the family.
Police officials stated that the delay in providing medical care was a grave error and expressed regret for the outcome. The incident highlights the importance of timely medical response in custody situations.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
