Police decision to call off ambulance scrutinised during custodial death inquest

A coronial inquest has commenced into the 2023 death of Jeffrey Winmar, a 28-year-old Indigenous father, while in police custody in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The investigation is currently focusing on the critical minutes preceding his passing, specifically the decision by attending Victoria Police officers to cancel a previously requested ambulance.

Evidence presented to the Coroner highlights a timeline where emergency medical assistance was initially summoned but subsequently stood down by members on the scene. The Winmar family, seeking transparency and accountability, is questioning the rationale behind this decision and whether it deviated from standard operating procedures regarding the welfare of detainees.

“When the state assumes custody of an individual, the duty of care is absolute; any deviation in medical response requires the highest level of accountability.”

The inquest is expected to run for several days, calling upon witnesses to determine whether the delay in medical intervention contributed to the tragic outcome. The final findings will likely reignite the broader national conversation regarding the treatment of First Nations people within the Victorian justice system and the necessity for systemic reform.