Victoria police apologise after man held in cell 5 hours with untreated head injury
John Makai, 58, died in 2023 after five hours in a Broadmeadows cell without medical care for serious head trauma.
John Makai was punched by his son while drinking. Makai was taken to a police cell at Broadmeadows instead of going to hospital.
Makai had a serious head injury. Police asked for an ambulance but then cancelled it.
They told paramedics he was in very deep sleep from drinking. CCTV footage from the inquest proved he was not sleeping.
He was unresponsive. Officers told their custody sergeant they checked on him every 15 minutes.
This was false. Records showed they had not.
After five hours, another officer described him as unconscious. Then paramedics were sent.
By then, Makai had a brain injury from bleeding. It was not survivable.
A lawyer for Victoria Police's chief commissioner said sorry. His care was not at the standard that any member of the Victorian community should expect.
- John Makai, 58-year-old father of 10
- Victim
- 5 hours
- Time in custody
- Broadmeadows
- Police cell location
- 2023
- Year of death
Why it mattersThe inquest looks at police decisions in custody and whether hospital treatment could have changed the outcome.
AustraliaVictorian police may review how they assess injured detainees and coordinate with ambulance services, affecting how similar situations are handled across the state.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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