Australia police seize black box of cruise ship following infections linked to vessel News
hpgruesen / Pixabay
Australia police seize black box of cruise ship following infections linked to vessel

Australian police reported Thursday that they have taken the “black box” of a cruise ship as part of a homicide investigation after 15 COVID-19 deaths were reportedly linked to the vessel. The ship, the Ruby Princess, was permitted to disembark 2,700 passengers last month without health checks. As a result, hundreds of passengers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and the ship has become Australia’s deadliest infection source.

As part of the investigation, the police interviewed the captain of the ship and collected electronic logs. By reviewing this evidence and the GPS evidence recorded by the black box, police are hoping to discover why the ship was allowed to dock in Sydney and drop off passengers despite the known danger the virus posed. New South Wales police commissioner Mick Fuller plans to collect extensive witness testimony to determine if state or national biosecurity laws were breached when the ship was permitted to dock. By law, vessels are typically only permitted to disembark passengers if the ship is disease-free.

At the moment, about 1,000 crew members remain on board, 18 of whom have already tested positive for the virus. Although Health Minister Greg Hunt has reported that Australia is effectively flattening the COVID-19 curve, New South Wales has yet to see a decrease in cases.

For more on COVID-19, see our special coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.