An Australian prisons agency has been fined £190,000 (Aus$285,000) over the death of an Aboriginal who was allegedly "cooked" to death in the back of a prison van.
Known only as Mr Ward for Aboriginal cultural reasons, the 46-year-old elder died from heatstroke in the sweltering outback of Western Australia state during a four-hour journey in 2008 in a van with broken air-conditioning.
He suffered third-degree burns as temperatures in the vehicle's rear compartment soared to up to 50C (122F) on the trip to a drink-driving hearing.
The state's corrective services department pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that Mr Ward was not exposed to what were ultimately fatal hazards, and on Thursday it was handed the fine by the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court.
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