Lex Wotton jailed for six years

Aboriginal leaders say relations between black and white communities in north Queensland can now begin to mend after Palm Island riot ringleader Lex Wotton received a much lesser prison sentence than expected.

Wotton, 41, was on Friday sentenced to six years jail, with a fixed parole date in July 2010, for his role in the 2004 riot - well short of the 10-year prison term his supporters had expected.

Aboriginal activist Gracelyn Smallwood told a cheering crowd outside the Townsville courthouse the result was a victory. "We are very grateful and are hoping that black and white can come together and move on with the healing process," she said. Wotton was found guilty of one count of rioting with destruction ollowing a three-week trial in Brisbane District Court last month, but Judge Michael Shanahan
adjourned sentencing to Friday.

The riot on November 26, 2004 - a week after the death in police custody of
Aboriginal man Cameron Doomadgee - resulted in the island's police station and an
officers' residence being burnt to the ground.
Judge Shanahan on Friday took aim at Queensland authorities who, he said, had
mishandled the events following the death of Mr Doomadgee and contributed to
community anger.
He said many Palm Islanders believed Mr Doomadgee's death would not be properly
investigated after Detective Sergeant Darren Robinson, a friend of arresting officer
Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, was appointed to lead the probe.
Snr Sgt Hurley was last year acquitted of manslaughter, but admitted to accidentally
causing Mr Doomadgee's death by falling on top of him with his knee protruding.
Residents were also not made aware that the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the
state coroner would also investigate, Judge Shanahan said.
The riot erupted after the release of a pathologist's report which found Mr
Doomadgee, whose liver had been cleaved in two, had died as a result of a fall.
However, Judge Shanahan said the community's understandable anger did not give them
the right to riot.
"Whatever the justification, society cannot accept that this (riot) was an
appropriate response," Judge Shanahan said.
He said many of the 22 police on the island at the time of the riot - who earlier
this week received bravery awards - had feared for their lives and were still
affected by it.
Prosecutor Michael Cowen had asked for Wotton to be sentenced to 10 years jail
because he was a leader of the riots and was seen pouring petrol onto the police
station.
He had also incited the riot by taking the microphone at the town meeting to declare
"thing are going to burn" and ordered another island man to set fire to the
officers' residence.
Mr Cowen also noted Wotton's criminal history, which included convictions for
assaulting women and juveniles.
However, defence barrister Clive Steirn pleaded with Judge Shanahan, describing Mr
Wotton as "a decent human being".
He said Wotton dedicated much of his spare time to improving the strife-ridden
community and was the primary supporter of his family.
Mr Steirn also read a character reference from Townsville MP and Parliamentary
Speaker Mike Reynolds who called the Palm Islander "an agent for change".
Mr Reynolds said the riot had helped draw the government's attention to the troubles
facing Palm Island.
"There has probably been more done for Palm Island (since this riot) than there was
in the decades previously," Mr Reynolds wrote.
Outside court, Wotton's mother Agnes Wotton said she was pleased her son would be
home in 19 months.
"I think Lex is really strong. At least I can go to bed and have a decent sleep and
know that ... (he) is very strong. He is one child I don't have to worry about," she
said.