Sumner v. UK et al. fr

Country of proceedings: Australia
Context of crimes: Australia
Date: 1999
Keywords: Genocide, jurisdiction (extra-territorial)

In this case, Darrell Sumner accused 20 organisations or persons of genocide against Ngarrindjeri, a people living on the Hindmarsh Island (South of Adelaide, Australia). The plaintiff asserted that the government’s intention to proceed with the building of a bridge between this island and Australian would result in the “desecration of the site and the culture of the Ngarrindjeri people”.

Darrell Sumner sought to rely on the Genocide Act 1969 passed in the UK and that would apply extraterritorially in Australia. The Supreme Court of South Australia cited the Nulyarimma case to state that genocide is not an offence under Australian law.

Court documents

27-10-1999 - Judgement