Sergeant Hurley was acquitted in 2007 of the manslaughter of Palm Island Resident Cameron Doomadgee in 2004, but faced a reopened inquiry into the matter in Townsville yesterday. His partner gave birth to the couple's first child, a boy, on Wednesday.

Mr Doomadgee was found dead on the floor of a watch-house cell on Palm Island, off Townsville, less than an hour after struggling with Sergeant Hurley after his arrest for public nuisance.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died of massive internal injuries. Prosecutors at Sergeant Hurley's trial had alleged he caused the injuries by ''dropping a knee'' into Mr Doomadgee's back after he fell to the floor of the police station. The defence argued the injuries were the result of a ''complicated fall'' with the 115kg officer landing heavily with his knee on MrDoomadgee. However, Sergeant Hurley told the inquiry his recollection that he had not fallen on top of MrDoomadgee had not changed though medical evidence indicated it must have occurred.

He also rejected accusations that discussions with fellow officers after the incident amounted to a conspiracy to ensure their versions of events did not conflict.

Earlier, a key witness to the incident, Senior Sergeant Michael Leafe, told the inquest he advised lawyers acting for Sergeant Hurley of changes to his testimony, but failed to notify prosecutors. AAP