A man in a paddy wagon screamed "Let me out otherwise I'm going to ... wind up dead", as Palm Islanders marched on the police station three days after a high-profile death in custody, a court has heard.
Lex Wotton, who was jailed for inciting riots a week after Mulrunji Doomadgee's death, told a Federal Court trial that arresting officer Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley arrived in a car with other officers as the crowd of up to 200 reached the station.
"Let me out otherwise I'll be the next one," Mr Wotton recalled a local man yelling from the paddy wagon.
"I'm going to wind up dead."
The trial will determine whether alleged police failings after Mulrunji's death were racially discriminatory.
The court heard on Tuesday that the crowd had been meeting down the road when a girl said they should go to the police station.
Mr Wotton said he asked Sen Sgt Hurley to explain how Mulrunji had died.
The court heard the officer agreed, stood before the locals and asked: "What, isn't two years of service enough for you people?"
Among the complaints making up the class action - launched by Mr Wotton on behalf of Palm Islanders - is that the declaration of an emergency, subsequent raids and arrests without warrants were excessive.
The court heard from Jucinta Barry, who said she was pushed in the chest with a gun during raids on her home after the riot.
She said parts of a conversation with Detective Sergeant Darren Robinson after the raids had been omitted from a recording played in court.
"Don't you come looking for help if (your partner) bash you or rape you," Ms Barry recalled Detective Robinson telling her daughter during the recorded conversation.
"I said, 'Mate, you can't say that to her.'"
Mr Wotton said a woman told him members of the local justice group heard cries from the watchhouse on the day Mulrunji died.
He said the council passed a motion to send a letter asking government officials, including then-Premier Peter Beattie, to come to the island.
None came until after the police station and Sen Sgt Hurley's home had been burnt to the ground in rioting four days after the first public meeting.
Justice Debbie Mortimer will decide whether Queensland state should pay compensation and damages to the community, which has also asked for an apology.
The trial continues in Townsville.
