Death of 58-year-old man after police custody delays in Melbourne, 2023

Consensus Summary

A 58-year-old man, John Makai, died in 2023 after suffering a brain injury while unconscious for hours in a holding cell at Broadmeadows Police Station in Melbourne. Makai’s death followed an incident on September 9, 2023, where he fell and struck his head after a confrontation with his son. Despite his deteriorating condition, officers failed to recognize the severity of his injury, misinterpreting his unresponsiveness as drunkenness. An ambulance was initially requested but was cancelled due to an error by Triple Zero Victoria staff, delaying critical medical attention for more than four hours. Both ABC and The Guardian report that Makai’s life support was switched off two days later after he was diagnosed with a non-survivable brain injury, highlighting systemic failures in police and emergency response protocols.

The incident began when Makai, described as a loving father of 10 children, became violent after a spilled drink in an Uber led to an argument with his son Terewa. Police were called to the Sunbury home, where Makai and Terewa were bleeding and being questioned when Makai lost his balance and fell, striking a bookshelf. Officers then took him to Broadmeadows Police Station for observation, where he lost consciousness during the ride. Upon arrival, security footage showed officers carrying Makai into a cell, where he remained motionless. The Guardian notes that officers twice falsely claimed Makai had responded to checks, despite CCTV showing no movement, while ABC emphasizes the prolonged delay in calling an ambulance due to an 'inadvertent error' by Triple Zero Victoria.

Victoria Police has publicly apologized for the failures in Makai’s care, acknowledging that the standard of treatment fell short of community expectations. Barrister Andrew Imrie, representing the police chief commissioner, expressed sincere condolences to Makai’s family and confirmed disciplinary action against some employees. The Guardian reports that police admitted failures to complete medical checklists, conduct risk assessments, and adequately monitor Makai’s condition. Both outlets highlight that officers believed Makai was drunk, a misjudgment that delayed critical intervention. Triple Zero Victoria’s operations support director, Ryan Goon, stated that the ambulance cancellation was an 'extremely rare' error and that additional training and software updates were implemented to prevent future mistakes.

While both sources agree on the core timeline and key events, there are differences in emphasis. ABC focuses on the prolonged delay in calling an ambulance and the officers’ belief that Makai was drunk, while The Guardian details the physical brutality of Makai’s transfer into the cell, including his head striking the van’s floor and walls. The Guardian also notes that officers claimed to check on Makai every 15 minutes, though footage disproved this. These discrepancies underscore the varying perspectives on the severity of police negligence, though both agree that systemic failures contributed to Makai’s death. The Guardian additionally specifies that the inquest is expected to run for two weeks, examining policy changes and reviews completed after the incident.

The coronial inquest continues to probe whether the delays in treatment directly contributed to Makai’s death and how police and emergency services responded to his deteriorating condition. Both ABC and The Guardian report that the inquest will also assess whether Makai could have survived if taken to a hospital instead of a police station. Victoria Police’s admission of failures and the disciplinary actions taken reflect an acknowledgment of institutional shortcomings, though the full extent of accountability remains under investigation. The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when medical emergencies are mishandled in custody, with both sources agreeing that Makai’s death was preventable had proper protocols been followed.