John Quigley wants footage of second Taser attack released

October 9, 2010
Yasmine Phillips, Perth Now

PRISON authorities are facing further pressure from the Opposition to release a video showing an Aboriginal man being Tasered 11 times - for the second time in a week.
Shadow attorney-general John Quigley has called on the Barnett Government to immediately release the footage, describing it as an "international disgrace''.

The man, Kevin Spratt, was also shot 13 times with a Taser at the East Perth Watch House, with that footage being released by the Corruption and Crime Commission last week.

Both incidents occurred in August 2008.

After the second incident, Mr Quigley said Mr Spratt was "severely injured'' and rushed from the watchhouse to the Royal Perth Hospital emergency department.

"We now know that there is a second video of a second Taser barrage inflicted upon the prisoner at the Perth lock-up approximately seven days after the first,'' Mr Quigley said.

"We do know that the government authorities have seen this video and they are keeping it secret because they do not want Australia and the world to know how black prisoners are treated in custody in WA. That can be the only explanation.

"Mr Spratt ended up in hospital after the second incident with a tube coming out of his chest from a punctured lung.

"He was manacled to a hospital bed and sustained a shoulder injury as well. He was severely injured during the second Taser barrage.

"This is a cover up. If they were serious, they would have started an inquiry two and a half years ago - not last Monday, five days ago.

"Mr Spratt is demanding access to that video immediately. This is a national disgrace. How we have treated black prisoners in WA is an international disgrace.''

The footage of the second incident is the property of the Department of Corrective Services.

A spokeswoman for the department said the matter had been referred to the professional standards division at the request of Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter.

"Because the matter is now under review, we can't comment any further,'' she said.