The moral of this story?<\/p>\n
Police property is valuable<\/a>. Aboriginal life is not<\/a>.<\/p>\n Palm Island riot ringleader Lex Wotton jailed THE ringleader behind the 2004 Palm Island riot has been jailed for six years.<\/p>\n Lex Wotton was found guilty on October 24 of inciting the riot that resulted in the destruction of the island’s police station, the courthouse and an officer’s residence.<\/p>\n During the trial, the court was told 40-year-old Wotton led an angry mob on a rampage on November 26, 2004, destroying property and threatening police.<\/p>\n The anger erupted after the release of findings of a post-mortem examination on the body of 36-year-old Cameron Doomadgee, who died in police custody a week earlier.<\/p>\n Wotton will be eligible for parole in July 2010.<\/p>\n Judge Michael Shanahan told the court police and authorities had mishandled communication with locals in the days after the death of Cameron Doomadgee.<\/p>\n Many Palm Islanders believed the death in custody would not be properly dealt with, despite a number of investigations being launched, including one by the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC), he said.<\/p>\n “Whatever the justification, society cannot accept that this (riot) was an appropriate response,” Judge Shanahan said.<\/p>\n Outside court, supporters of Wotton cheered at news he would be released in 19 months.<\/p>\n Aboriginal activist Gracelyn Smallwood said the community had been bracing themselves for a sentence of between 10 years and life in jail. She declared the result a victory for Aboriginal people.<\/p>\n “We are very grateful and are hoping that black and white can come together and move on with the healing process,” she said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.theage.com.au\/ffximage\/2007\/06\/12\/js13n_hurley_narrowweb__300x396,0.jpg\")
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\nThe Australian<\/em>
\nNovember 7, 2008<\/p>\n