Supporters urged to front courthouse ahead of Steve Nixon-McKellar Inquest

The family of an Indigenous man who died during a violent police arrest are calling on supporters to front up to the courthouse for the first day of a coronial inquest into his death.

Steven Lee Nixon-McKellar died during an arrest in front of his aunt’s home, on Stone Street, Newtown, on October 7, 2021.

The family of Steven Lee Nixon-McKellar are organising a rally to coincide with the first day of the Coronial Inquest into his death-in-custody.

The 27-year-old Mitchell-born man died during arrest outside his aunty’s home on Stone Street, Newtown on October 7, 2021.

Police had tracked Steven and a co-offender to the address after they were identified in a stolen vehicle and violent struggle broke out during his arrest.

Body-worn and dashcam footage of the arrest allegedly shows one of the arresting officers place Steven in a Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint while another says “Choke the c--- out, choke him out”.

Raelene Nixon, mother of Steven Lee Nixon McKellar, is critical of the role police played in her son’s death.

Steven reportedly went limp and paramedics were called in but they could not revive him as his throat was allegedly clogged with vomit.

The incident is being treated as a death in custody and triggered a Coronial Inquest.

Speaking after the pre-Inquest hearing in June, Steven’s mum Raelene Nixon said she was looking for answers – and changes.

“My sick son, sworn at while he was beaten with batons, kicked, choked and then blamed for it,” she said.

“He was someone’s brother, uncle, grandson, nephew and cousin.

“I am disgusted with the officer’s conduct and I find it hard to believe that this behaviour is acceptable.

“Until we get to the root cause of policing and police brutality and identify and address the differences in how police treat Aboriginal people, it is difficult to see how anything will change.”

The inquest, which starts on September 11, will look at Steven’s history of mental illness, his underlying health problems and the significant level of methylamphetamine detected in his body at the time.

But the focus will be on the use of the LVNR, which has since been restricted as a use-of-force option by the Queensland Police Service.

It can now only be used if an office is under threat of death or grievous bodily harm.

While Ms Nixon welcomed the ‘holistic view’ of her son’s medical history, she placed the blame for his death squarely on the LVNR.

“Steven was well and truly alive – despite any underlying health conditions – until the QPS officer applied the LVNR,” she said.

A rally has been organised on the steps of the Toowoomba Courthouse for the first day of the inquest with supporters urged to bring a candle and wear a black armband.

Organisers hope to get at least 547 people there – one for each life lost since the 1991 Royal Commissioner into Aboriginal Death in Custody.

The rally will run from 8-10am on September 11.