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Australian police tase aboriginal to death

05 October 2010 20:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Footage showing an unarmed aboriginal man kicking and screaming while being repeatedly tasered by the Perth police has infuriated Australians, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The man, who is believed to be mentally ill, was tasered 13 times after refusing to undergo a strip search in a Perth police station.

Nine police officers were involved in the incident. Two of them have been fined.

The release of this video follows the death of a man who was tasered in the chest by police in New South Wales.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett condemned the incident as an "unjustified use of excessive force," while senior Australian police officials on Tuesday defended the use of the lethal device.

Around 500,000 of Australia’s 22 million-strong population claim aboriginal heritage and cultural values.

Human rights group Amnesty International has recently criticized Australia for what it describes as racially discriminatory policies toward Aborigines.

Indigenous communities are considered as the most disadvantaged in Australia and they suffer higher rates of imprisonment, unemployment, illness and child mortality.

Last year a West Australian Aboriginal man, who had been threatening to ignite himself with a petrol can, burst into flames after being hit by a Taser.

The police are now under fire for overusing stun guns to coerce potential offenders to comply with their orders.