A Palm Island man arrested on the same day as Mulrunji Doomadgee has told the coronial inquest into his death in custody he heard the 36-year-old calling for help.

Patrick Bramwell was put in the police watch-house opposite Mr Doomadgee on November 19, after a morning of drinking.

He told the inquest he could hear Mr Doomadgee calling for help and saw Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley on top of Mr Doomadgee punching him.

Mr Bramwell also told the court he heard Snr Sergeant Hurley say "Do you want more Mr Doomadgee?".

The inquest has also heard evidence from Mr Doomadgee's de facto partner, who was drinking him the night before he was found dead in the watch-house.

Tracey Twaddle told the inquest they had consumed about a carton-and-a-half of beer before he was arrested but that he had no signs of injury.

When she later viewed his body in the hospital he had bruising above his right eyelid.

In opening, state coroner Michael Barnes put on the public record that he had been involved with previous complaints against Palm Island Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley in his capacity with the Criminal Justice Commission.

But Mr Barnes said because he had not presided over those matters he did not feel there was any case for bias in him hearing the inquest.

The inquest is continuing.