Aurukun New Year riot: clan violence and sly grog were factors

Sly grogging and clan warfare were at the heart of riots that were sparked by an alleged murder in Aurukun on New Year’s Day, police say. WATCH THE VIDEO

SLY GROGGING and clan warfare were at the heart of riots that were sparked by the alleged murder of a 37-year-old Aurukun man on Wednesday.

Far North police Supt Geoff Sheldon said the violence was an eruption of “long standing” tensions, fuelled by black market alcohol.

“Aurukun is at a flash point,” Supt Sheldon said.

“The situation in Aurukun is long standing; this is actually a continuance of that - an inter clan retribution.

“The day’s conflict could have been over something from two years ago, five years ago or further.”

Supt Sheldon said “sly grog” had been detected despite a large seizure of alcohol in the days leading to New Year.

“People wandering around were detected having liquor on them, we’re quite disappointed actually,” Supt Sheldon said.

“In the day before we had one of the largest seizures that we have seen in the last two to three years; we thought we had prevented some tremendous issues and here we are, deeply sorry that one of the community is dead and eight houses are destroyed.”

One of the houses destroyed during riots in Aurukun on January 1. The houses were torched in an effort to “smoke out” the teens accused of murdering a man, 37.

The houses were torched as supporters of the aggrieved family tried to “smoke out” the accused teens.

Supt Sheldon said the ongoing investigation was likely to be measured in weeks and months, not days.

“It is very tough to put together a brief of evidence in violent situations.

“There has been a number of arson, assaults, people being held against their will; that investigation will be a long investigation - the public affray and rioting will be investigated.”

He said the evening’s destruction rivalled that of November 2015.

“It’s the worst I have seen - it rates right up there with the history of the town,” Supt Sheldon said.

“I don’t think we have ever seen eight houses burned to the ground.”

Queensland Police Superintendent Geoff Sheldon has detailed the police efforts to contain and reduce rioting in Aurukun, following the stabbing murder of a 37-year-old man in the indigenous community. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

The two teens accused of killing the deceased- an adult male and a juvenile co accused, 17, were bundled away to Weipa after surrendering to police.

The adult defendant, 18, appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court today via telephone link to Weipa.

He remained silent during the hearing other than to say he could hear Acting Magistrate Raimund Heggie.

The accused did not enter a plea to one charge of murder.

Sergeant Donna Sperling, prosecuting, told the court the brief of evidence would take some time to assemble.

Mr Heggie remanded the defendant into custody and adjourned the matter for mention at the Aurukun Magistrates Court on April 22.

A resident of the Cape York community, who for safety reasons wished to remain anonymous, said Wednesday’s turn of events were “frightful.”

“It has been etched in my mind,” the resident said.

One of six houses in Aurukun which was destroyed by a rioting mob after a fatal stabbing. Picture: Supplied

“The family is full of rage at the moment, there is a lot of tension, it’s a tinder box.”

A mob of Aurukun residents converged on the airport on Wednesday and descended on a police vehicle in the hopes of lynching the accused.

“When the plane came with police backup, the community formed the opinion that it was going to take away the (alleged) murderers,” the resident said.

“Everyone ran to the airport in the belief that the accused had been sighted; that they would overpower police and then kill them.

“A police car was totally smashed - there was about 30 or 40 young fellas; I saw a couple of hundred people at the police station.”

“The crowd thought the killers were in the car - they jumped on it, it was like a swarm of ants on a wallaby - just a cacophony of noise.”

It is understood that at the time of the rioting, the family believed QPS officers could have prevented the death.

“The extended family is saying the police should have interjected and stopped the fight,” the resident said.

“There are discussions blaming police and that is a really volatile situation.”

Originally published as Aurukun New Year riot: clan violence and sly grog were factors