The start of a new year is often a time for reflection and hope. However, for some families, the holiday period has brought unimaginable grief.
At O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors, we continue to do what we do best:
standing beside those who have been failed by the institutions meant to protect them, and fighting for accountability when it is denied.
This month, we bring you an important update on a case that underscores the urgent need for systemic change in Australia’s detention facilities.
We Are Representing Family of Kumanjayi Dempsey
Kumanjayi Dempsey, a 44-year-old Aboriginal mother of five, tragically passed away on 27 December 2025, just 24 hours after her arrest on Christmas Day.
Her death marks the fourth Aboriginal death in custody in the Northern Territory in 2025, a devastating indictment of systemic failure, 34 years after the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody handed down its recommendations.
Our firm is deeply concerned about the ongoing inadequacy of conditions at Tennant Creek Watch House and Northern Territory detention facilities more broadly.
These concerns are compounded by the NT Government’s recent refusal to allow the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to conduct its scheduled inspection of detention centres, including watch houses, placing Australia in breach of its international human rights obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).
O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors is representing Kumanjayi’s family as they seek answers and accountability.
Our team has extensive experience pursuing civil actions against the state on behalf of families affected by deaths in custody.
We extend our sincere condolences to Kumanjayi’s family, friends and loved ones and ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
Stewart O'Connell is a Special Counsel at O'Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors, bringing over 20 years of experience in criminal defence and defamation law to the firm. He holds an LLB and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. Stewart has appeared as a barrister in ten jury trials, winning nine, and represented the client who received the highest defamation award in Northern Territory Court history.
He has also negotiated significant compensation settlements in defamation matters against major media organisations, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, 7News, and The Financial Review. Earlier in his career, Stewart spent thirteen years working with the Aboriginal Legal Services and ran the Northern Territory Legal Aid office in Katherine.
In 2000, he received the National Children's and Youth Law Centre's National Award for Aboriginal Youth Lawyer of the Year. He served as the Senior Project Officer on the Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Aboriginal Communities in the Northern Territory and later represented youth clients in the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
Stewart has also taught Criminal Law at the Australian National University. Known for his direct, empathetic communication style, Stewart prioritises achieving the best and most efficient outcome for every client, whether through skilled negotiation or vigorous courtroom advocacy.
