Two indigenous deaths in four days at ACT jail

Another Indigenous man has died in custody in a Canberra prison – only four days after a 73-year-old man died last Thursday.

The man, named by the ABC as Howard Hall, 38, died at the Alexander Maconochie Centre after he suffered a “medical episode”.

An ACT Police spokesperson said the man died at the scene despite “significant efforts” by paramedics.

The ACT Corrective Services has confirmed the 73-year-old Aboriginal man who died last Thursday was on remand.

Julie Tongs, the chief executive of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health & Community Services said the community was heartbroken.

Ms Tongs said the prison system was failing First Nations people.

“Until the government acknowledges that there’s a problem, we’re never going to change anything,” Ms Tongs told the ABC.