Death in custody case under scrutiny as ministers meet

Indigenous incarceration rates and deaths in custody will be high on the agenda at a summit. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

An Indigenous death in custody case is being closely watched by the federal government after a territory leader vigorously opposed an independent inquiry.

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said ahead of a meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap in Darwin that deaths in custody had to end and the Commonwealth was deeply concerned about the issue.