Warning: this text consists of the identify and picture of an Aboriginal one who has died. It additionally discusses distressing themes, together with suicide.
The mom of a 16-year-old Yamatji boy who died in Western Australia’s infamous Casuarina youth justice wing has expressed her hopes and fears forward of the inquest into his demise.
Cleveland Dodd was discovered unresponsive in his cell on October 12, 2023. He later died from self-inflicted accidents.
With the coronial inquest into his demise resulting from start Wednesday, Cleveland’s mom, Nadene, mentioned it was a time of “combined feelings”.
“I am unhappy, upset, scared. All of them,” she informed NITV.
“I need to know what occurred to my son. You’d suppose {that a} child can be secure in a spot that’s watched 24/7 and also you’d suppose that they are going to come dwelling to you secure.
“My son didn’t come dwelling to me.”
Hopes inquest delivers ‘accountability’
Disturbing reviews have already alleged an absence of satisfactory supervision the evening Cleveland died.
An interim report launched by state corrective providers minister Paul Papalia in November final 12 months discovered “important failures”, together with that jail guards had been stress-free and watching films.
This was regardless of Cleveland twice making calls over intercom, and threatening self-harm.
Ms Dodd hopes the inquest delivers findings in opposition to anybody who failed of their obligation of care.
“Them folks ought to be accountable,” she mentioned.
“They need to have helped him when he wanted assist. If it wasn’t for them to simply go and test on him and ask him if he was okay, that might have been totally different.
“He may have nonetheless been right here with us however he’s not.”
When releasing the interim report final 12 months, Mr Papalia declared the necessity for “important cultural change.”
A detailed household’s grief for a ‘loving’ baby
Nadene Dodd with (from left) Glenda Mippy, Stuart Dodd and Jill Dodd.
Ms Dodd is at present staying with household in Perth, whereas different relations have travelled down from the Goldfields to attend the inquest.
“My household is the most important help I’ve in the meanwhile to get me by means of this.”
That help has been very important for the younger mom, as she campaigns for justice, changing into a robust advocate for her son.
Evidently laid low with the lack of her eldest baby, she has nonetheless fronted media a number of instances since Cleveland’s demise.
Ms Dodd was at pains to redress any unfavourable portrayals of her son.
“He was , loving, caring child.
“Anybody that knew Cleveland, how he grew up again dwelling in Laverton, they know that he wasn’t the child that they suppose he was.
“Any mom that misplaced their baby in the best way I misplaced my son, I’m by no means going to get well from this.”