Brisbane watch house officer tells inquest she did not check if Aunty Sherry Tilberoo was breathing

Family and friends of Shiralee Tilberoo – known as Aunty Sherry – at the inquest into her death at the Brisbane watch house in September 2020. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

A Brisbane watch house officer who was suspended after the death of First Nations woman Shiralee Tilberoo has admitted during an inquest that she did not check whether she was breathing or shine a torch into the darkened cell on nine occasions.

The Birri Gubba woman – also known as Aunty Sherry – died of a brain aneurysm in Brisbane City watch house in the early hours of the morning on 10 September 2020.