[4] Collectively the atrocities resulted in the deaths of an unknown number of Jaburara (or Yaburrara, Yapurarra) people, but with estimates ranging from 15 to 150 dead men, women and children.
[5][6] After Police Constable William Griffis allegedly "abducted a young Aboriginal woman at gunpoint and took her 'into the bush'" (colloquialism for rape), he apprehended her husband Coolyerberri for "stealing flour from a pearling boat, on 6 February 1868.
[15] Pearlers and pastoralists from the surrounding region, with the approval and support of Robert John Sholl,[16] the Government Resident in Roebourne,[17][18] organised two armed and mounted parties,[19] which travelled overland and by sea to Murujuga, the heartland of the Jaburara people.
Official sources and oral tradition suggest that one atrocity by the parties, on a Jaburara camp at King Bay on 17 February, killed at least 15 people, including children.
[11] Details of his death, which make no mention of the rape Griffis allegedly perpetrated whilst on active duty and that led to his spearing by the husband of his victim,[7][10] nor of the massacre into which it ultimately degenerated, are shown as,[11] speared to death by prisoner Coolyerberri who had been released by other [... Aboriginals] during the night whilst the party was camped on the Shore of Nickol Bay in WA's north-west.20°34′52″S 116°48′29″E / 20.581°S 116.808°E / -20.581; 116.808