World · North America · 1 hr ago
John Makai's son sues emergency services over his father's death
Terewa Makai is suing three Victorian emergency services over the death of his father, John Makai.
The case concerns events at the family's home in Sunbury, in Melbourne's outer north-west, in September 2023.
After an argument and a fight between the two men, police arrested John Makai and took him to Broadmeadows police station.
He had suffered a brain injury before entering the holding cell, but officers reportedly thought his snoring meant he was asleep.
An ambulance was delayed and then apparently cancelled, while custody officers did not carry out checks as requested; Makai remained almost motionless for hours and later died in hospital.
Victoria Police apologised at the ongoing coronial inquest, which has examined how the injury and missed signs were handled.
His son alleges negligence caused his loss and damage, and the civil case is set for a jury trial in Melbourne unless it is settled.
Terewa Makai has filed a civil lawsuit against Victoria Police, Triple Zero Victoria and Ambulance Victoria over his father John Makai’s death.
The lawsuit alleges negligence by the emergency services caused Terewa Makai injury, loss and damage.
John Makai died after being left unconscious for hours in a holding cell, following a family fight in Sunbury.
Victoria Police apologised for his death at an inquest in the Coroners Court of Victoria.
The case is set for a jury trial in Melbourne unless it is settled out of court.
- Who
- Terewa Makai is suing Victoria Police, Triple Zero Victoria and Ambulance Victoria over the death of his father, John Makai.
- What
- The civil lawsuit alleges negligence by the emergency services caused injury, loss and damage.
- When
- The events began in the early hours of September 10, 2023. The lawsuit was filed on September 10; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The incident began at the family’s home in Sunbury, in Melbourne’s outer north-west. John Makai was later taken to Broadmeadows police station.
- Why
- Terewa Makai claims the emergency services’ negligence caused his father’s death and resulting harm to him.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A fight broke out at the Makai family home in Sunbury.
An apparent blunder or confusion led to the ambulance being cancelled.
Cell footage showed John Makai remained almost completely motionless.
A newly arrived watchhouse sergeant noticed Makai’s fatal condition, but he could not be saved.
Paramedics arrived and discovered Makai had a traumatic brain injury.
Terewa Makai filed a civil lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
- Plaintiff
- Terewa Makai
- Deceased
- John Makai
- Defendants
- Victoria Police; Triple Zero Victoria; Ambulance Victoria
- Incident location
- Sunbury, Melbourne’s outer north-west
- Ambulance arrival
- 6.29am
- Court
- Supreme Court of Victoria
What people are saying
What was perceived as a deep drunken sleep may have actually been a traumatic injury and bleeding into the brain