Warning: Readers are advised that this case study contains the name of and details about a person who has passed away.
Inquest into the death of Selesa Tafaifa
- Court / Tribunal
Coroners Court
- Date of decision
29 October 2025
- Type of proceeding
Coronial inquest
- Human Rights Act sections
9 (definition of public entities)
16 (right to life)
Summary
The Commission intervened in this matter.
Selesa passed away in Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre during a physical interaction with Custodial Corrections Officers, in which handcuffs and a safety hood (also known as a spit hood
) were applied.
The Deputy State Coroner decided the Coroner’s Court was not a public entity for the purposes of the Human Rights Act when holding an inquest, and could not make findings of human rights breaches by public entities. However, shortcomings may still be subject to comments under section 46 of the Coroners Act.
To prevent deaths from happening in similar circumstances in the future, the Coroner’s recommendations to Queensland Corrective Services included that:
- They consider implementing a phone system that allows prisoners to make free phone calls to loved ones.
- They consider undertaking a review of training provided to its officers regarding the deployment of safety hoods and monitoring of persons subject to the use of safety hoods in consultation with the Queensland Ambulance Service.
While the Coroner did not recommend prohibiting the use of safety hoods in all correctional facilities, she indicated that given other jurisdictions had ceased to use safety hoods, Queensland Corrective Services should consider whether its operational needs require the devices to continue to be used.
State Coroner ruling regarding independent investigation
The police unit usually responsible for such investigations had, at the time of death, been investigating and prosecuting Selesa for criminal charges against Queensland Corrective Service employees. The family submitted that the conduct alleged in those charges were similar to the alleged circumstances preceding Selesa’s death.
In a preliminary ruling, the State Coroner held that the right to life required an independent and impartial investigation into the death, and directed that the investigation be finalised by a different police unit.
Inquest into the death of Selesa Tafaifa, Ruling in relation to the conduct of the Police Coronial Investigation (Coroners Court of Queensland, T Ryan, State Coroner, 13 June 2022)