On August the 4th 2014, just after midday, a young Yamatji woman was dragged lifeless into the Hedland Health Campus in handcuffs. Her heart had already stopped by the time she was taken to the emergency room.
The 22-year-old passed away shortly after arriving at hospital from pneumonia and septicaemia.
An autopsy found her death was partly caused by complications from a previous rib fracture, which became infectious and spread to her lungs.
The Western Australian woman had complained she was feeling unwell, and was taken to the Hedland Health Campus three times while in custody.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Ilona O’Brien told the inquest that some of the police officers involved believed Ms Dhu was “feigning her illness”. In fact, they repeatedly said to each other and hospital staff that she was “faking it”.
On the morning of her death, CCTV footage shows Ms Dhu vomiting in the jail cell, unwitnessed by police.
She continued to complain that she felt unwell, prompting police to take her back to the Hedland Health Campus a third time.
Footage provided during the inquest showed Ms Dhu appeared barely conscious on her third hospital visit.
There were gasps of shock from the public gallery when the footage was played earlier this year.
One person was heard saying it looked like they were carrying her "like a dead kangaroo".
Another said: "Like South Africa. Oh God."
Shortly after her arrival, she went into cardiac arrest and died.
Earlier this year, Ms Dhu’s grandmother Carol Roe and mother Della Roe requested coroner Fogliani to release CCTV footage of Ms Dhu's final moments.
"Our child died a cruel and painful death. The world should see how she was treated," the pair said in a statement.
"For the last two years, we have been suffering alone - everyone should understand our grief and make sure this never happens again."
Today the coroner will hand down her findings into the causes of Ms Dhu's death along with any recommendations. She will also rule on whether the CCTV footage can be released publicly.
What happened following Ms Dhu’s death?
Ms Dhu died in a WA watch house after twice being told she was medically fit to be in jail. Source: Julieka Dhu
Ms Dhu’s death sparked protests across the country.
Her family, backed by the Deaths in Custody Watch Committee, has been vocal in calling for answers about the circumstances surrounding her death.
You can follow the family's Death in Custody Campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #JusticeForJulieka.
A coronial inquest began on November 23, 2015 - more than a year after Ms Dhu died.
Initially scheduled to run for two weeks, the inquest heard from health witnesses and experts, who shed light on the medical treatment Ms Dhu received in the days prior to her death.
It ran well beyond schedule and tomorrow will be the final day, with the coroner’s findings to be delivered and a decision on the public release of CCTV footage of her final hours.
The WA Deaths in Custody Watch Committee will be staging a protest outside the court from 8.30am (WAST) today.
At 9.30am (WAST) the coroner will deliver her findings.
