Reconciliation and Social Justice Library

ROYAL COMMISSION INTO

ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY

REPORT OF THE INQUIRY INTO THE DEATH OF

JOHN CLARENCE HIGHFOLD

• JOHN CLARENCE HIGHFOLD
  • INTRODUCTION
  • PERSONAL BACKGROUND OF JOHN HIGHFOLD
  • MEDICAL BACKGROUND OF JOHN HIGHFOLD
  • MEDICAL TREATMENT IN ADELAIDE GAOL
  • OBSERVATIONS OF JOHN HIGHFOLD PRIOR TO AND ON 4 JANUARY 1983
  • I find that on 3 January 1983, the afternoon before he died, Highfold and another prisoner, Mr Schulz, were together when they obtained their medication (Schulz S/2/27, 5410-11, 5414). Another prisoner, Ian Sansbury gave evidence to the Royal Commission to the effect that the night before Highfold's death he had been refused his medication. He said that at about 7.00 pm he had heard Highfold calling out for his medication (S/2/36, 5615). Sansbury is in serious error as the records satisfy me that he was not in Adelaide Gaol at the time of Highfold's death.
  • RESUSCITATION
    • 6.1 RESUSCITATION ATTEMPTS
    • 6.2 TRAINING OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS
  • CAUSE OF DEATH
    • 7.1 ABSENCE OF FOUL PLAY
    • 7.2 CAUSE OF DEATH
    • 7.3 POISON OR DRUGS
    • 7.4 STATUS EPILEPTICUS
    • 7.5 SINGLE EPILEPTIC FIT
  • POST-DEATH INVESTIGATIONS
    • 8.1 POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
    • 8.2 CORONER'S POLICE SQUAD
    • 8.3 THE AUTOPSY
    • 8.4 CORONIAL INVESTIGATION
  • OVERVIEW ISSUES
    • 9.1 NOTIFICATION OF RELATIVES OF DEATH
    • 9.2 THE INTERCOM SYSTEM
    • 9.3 COMMUNICATION OF MEDICAL INFORMATION TO CORRECTIONAL STAFF
    • SCHEDULE 1: LIST OF WITNESSES
    • SCHEDULE 2: LIST OF STATEMENTS/REPORTS TENDERED
    • SCHEDULE 3: LIST OF EXHIBITS