An inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager in a Western Australian youth detention centre begins on Wednesday.
A warning, this story contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died.
16-year-old Cleveland Dodd died in October last year after he took his own life while locked up in one of Perth’s maximum security adult prisons.
His death was the first recorded death in juvenile detention in Western Australia.
An ABC investigation into his death revealed a series of series of missed opportunities to save Cleveland’s life – including revelations that he used an intercom to tell officers he was going to attempt suicide.
His mother Nadene told the ABC she hopes the inquest brings answers and accountability.
“They failed Cleveland. They failed my son.”
The first part of the inquest will last for eight days and the second part is scheduled to be held later this year.
