Mystery witness in Klum inquiry
THE ex-wife of Ian Klum, who died after being injured in Grafton jail in June 2010, spoke yesterday of the loss the family suffered due to Mr Klum's "unjust" death.
"His daughter was in his arms while he died," said Peta Hines yesterday, after the coronial inquest into Mr Klum's death was adjourned until October 4.
"We (the family) still struggle with the fall-out from it all the time."
Mr Klum, formerly of Woolgoolga, was stepfather to Ms Hines' daughter Jerri Hines, now 24, and father to Jaimie Klum, now 19.
"The whole experience was horrific for all of us," Ms Hines said.
Yesterday's proceedings in the Grafton Courthouse were short-lived when a submission made by a former inmate of Grafton Jail caused an immediate adjournment of the inquest.
The submission is the subject of a non-publication order so no further details about the identity of the witness or the evidence given can be published.
Deputy State Coroner Malcolm McPherson said the submission may have a bearing on whether he re- fers any previous witness evidence to the director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr McPherson told the inquest he would ask the officer in charge of the investigation to obtain a statement from another person who was in the custody of Corrective Services at the time of the incident which led to Mr Klum's death.
BACKGROUND
Mr Klum, who was serving time for traffic offences, died in a Brisbane hospital on June 14, 2010, from a brain haemorrhage.
The case began with a "knock-up" or emergency call from cell 219 in Grafton Correctional Centre's multi-purpose unit at 2.29am on June 10, 2010.
An ambulance was not called until after 6am and within hours of being taken to Grafton Base Hospital, he had slipped into a coma.The wide-spanning inquest has been heard over nine days in two sittings so far -in October 2011 and March this year.
