trial trial relates events surrounding queensland proceedings concerning actions taken member november riots time councillor died custody led approximately people arrested release hailed hero residents continued act leader ran mayor community approximately years riot found guilty riot sentenced seven years prison trade elder indigenous activist prominence author married father children october age elected second term regional council elections nominations seeking positions supported group women called resignation council asserting diminished rights proposing strict new alcohol ban threatening significant source income area days later stated council left reserves run island end june claim foster disputed saying council fact million end june fed practices handed resignation reasoning years council body achieve long term success trade kept public writing letters editor messages example november letter editor praised decision dissolve allow adopt principles practice good governance effectively efficiently discharged benefit community march wrote open letter recently reelected official requesting explanation bay received massive injection state money state funds allocated dilapidated cent vote went end march candidates new public speaking public speaker speaking venues including presenting screening protected film society spoke seeing film boy opened eyes way things different palm went tour included melbourne august auditorium said afraid people like spread message tell truth september spoke public meeting book release french author book warriors peace political conditions people viewed written angry dreams alliances north west australia desert people australia palm island riots friday november year old resident arrested public died police custody hour later report released friday november read community meeting hearing died liver island watch house succession angry young men spoke crowd encouraged immediate action taken police death repeatedly branded cold murder joined people riot resulted police station court house home officer charge burned friday interview mail justified riot saying residents believe death accident residents set fire police station crying help listened additionally sought investigation wanted government agree police island newspaper interview delivered public response actions riot police entered home saturday gun leg arrest time pointing rifle year old daughter head sat bedroom floor time defendants males charged riots alleged riot november charged arson counts assault police counts damage riot causing damage bail december released bail characterised leader community bail conditions required return court march restricted movements particularly focusing preventing attending funeral returning north queensland island despite strict bail conditions days later attended protest march laid flowers steps north queensland city police station memory hailed hero sister arms neck december saying warrior subsequent court hearing allowed return home early november months trial faced life imprisonment people nominated run mayor community december election day election ruled ineligible mayor local government act people elected office queensland bankrupt previously bankrupt trial february granted separate trial accused allegations prosecution case accused case pleaded guilty charge rioting late march applied withdraw guilty plea advice legal representatives including accused acquitted jury rioting causing destruction application withdraw plea granted april days later released bail strict conditions ordered return april tried waited trial man mistaken september attacked addition having wrist bone shattered jaw bone fractured attackers caused internal bleeding head facial injuries bruised ribs delays trial began october brisbane trial lasted days jury october finding guilty riot resulted destruction island police station courthouse officer residence fourteen days later sentenced seven years prison reduced years time served family plans appeal sentence protest charge sentencing november protesters brisbane expressed anger sentencing week similar rallies took place major australian cities wellington new_zealand workers sydney observed minute silence solidarity speakers brisbane rally argued given bravery award saw standing racist oppression benefit concerts held support release prison july spending years prison released prison placed parole strict conditions surrounding release return end week minor medical treatment gag order appeal prisoners queensland prohibited law section queensland services act introduced speaking reporters permission duration imprisonment parole speak media attend public meetings prior approval parole officer believes designed muzzle truth president called director remarked unusual public spokesman politician prohibited public meeting welcoming home mayor commented conditions excessive contested queensland parole conditions australian constitution contains implied right political communication necessary representative democracy plus rights freedom association assembly case heard high_court august represented team lawyers including robinson assisted february high_court majority decision supported gag order majority judgement applied test abc law effectively burden freedom communication government political matters law reasonably appropriate adapted serve legitimate end compatible responsible government abc found legislation burden freedom political communication burden applied legitimate ends maintenance law order
Trial of Lex Wotton