Northern Territory Police say they are continuing to investigate the death of an Aboriginal woman at the Tennant Creek watch house, as criticism continues over police conducting internal investigations into deaths in custody.
The 44-year-old mother of five died at the Tennant Creek watch house on December 27, more than 24 hours after she was arrested on Christmas Day.
Northern Territory Police say the woman was found unresponsive inside the facility almost 30 minutes after CCTV footage showed her falling to the ground, NT Police say. An initial post-mortem conducted on Friday listed the cause of death as undetermined.
The ABC reported multiple sources said the woman suffered from severe health issues associated with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Police say no medical disclosures, including RHD, were made when the woman was taken into custody.
The investigation is now being led by the Northern Territory Police Major Crime Unit, with oversight from the force's Professional Standards Command (PSC).
An inquest into the 2012 death of 27-year-old Kwementyaye Briscoe in the Alice Springs watch house — who died after what was described as "completely inadequate and unsatisfactory" treatment by police — recommended "custody nurses" be employed at watch houses on a daily basis.
While nurses are stationed at watch houses in Darwin, Katherine, Palmerston and Alice Springs, there is no nurse based at the Tennant Creek watch house, with all those arrested and admitted undergoing a police health assessment.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said all circumstances surrounding the death in custody would be examined.
"All circumstances surrounding the death of the woman, from the policy and procedures that govern watch house care to the medical history of the deceased, will form part of a comprehensive brief of evidence that will be supplied to the Coroner," he said.
In a statement, NT Police said toxicology testing will be conducted before a formal cause of death is determined, with current investigations indicating the woman suffered a medical episode.
Assistant Commissioner Malley said all deaths in custody are "thoroughly investigated" by Crime Command detectives and overseen by PSC.
"In this instance, the investigation has also engaged the Cultural Reform Command, who are on the ground in the community," he said. "Police have been in constant communication with the deceased's family in Tennant Creek, keeping them up to date with how the investigation is progressing.
"While further testing is required to determine a formal cause of death, the current information suggests that the woman suffered a medical event alone in her cell."
Calls for independent oversight continue
The use of internal police investigations continues to draw strong criticism from Aboriginal organisations and advocates, who argue it undermines public confidence.
The issue has been compounded by ongoing allegations of systemic racism within the Northern Territory Police Force and the absence of charges more than seven months after the death in police custody of disabled 24-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White.
North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) CEO Ben Grimes told Guardian Australia last week internal investigations do not give communities confidence, describing them as insufficient to ensure accountability.
He said the organisation's longstanding view is that internal investigations are insufficient in ensuring accountability — a position long-mirrored by politicians, lawyers and advocates.
"Aboriginal families and communities have repeatedly said they do not trust a system where police are effectively investigating themselves after a death," Mr Grimes said.
"Independent, transparent investigations are critical not only to uncovering the truth, but also to maintaining community trust and preventing future deaths.
"Without genuine independence, the cycle of harm, mistrust and unanswered questions will continue."
Assistant Commissioner Malley has defended the current process. Speaking to the media days after the woman's death, he said he had "no issues" with police investigating police in cases involving Aboriginal deaths.
"We investigate our own all the time," he said. "We're very good at it, and people talk about conflicts all the time, but we're legislated to do it, and we do it very well."
In a statement on Monday, he added: "I have full confidence in the detectives working this investigation, and I have full confidence in the independent processes that already govern how police investigate death in custody matters."
In 2025, 33 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died in custody — the highest number of Indigenous deaths in a 12-month period since records began in 1979.
