Colonialism, crime and civilisation

Abstract

In December 1982 Malcolm Smith, an Aboriginal prisoner in Malabar Assessment Unit, Long Bay, Sydney, locked himsell in a toilet cubicle. Half a minute later he drove an artist's paintbrush through his left eye until only the metal sheath and hairs protruded. Although rushed to intensive care, a week later Malcolm Smith died as a result of those injuries. Malcolm had previously mutilated parts of his body. He had tried to gouge out his left eye at least twice before, apparently in obedience to the Biblical text, 'lf thine eye offend thee, pluck it out'.