sandee292000
03-24-2004, 04:53 AM
Second Rimutaka prisoner found dead
24 March 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/images/null.gif
Rimutaka Prison in Upper Hutt is dealing with its second death in custody this month after the discovery of the body of a 40 year-old man.
The Corrections Department confirmed the man, believed to be from Tawa, north of Wellington was found dead in his cell at 1am yesterday.
It is understood that yesterday the man had appeared at Porirua District Court on a charge of assault with intent to injure a female.
It is believed he was taken to Rimutaka Prison early that afternoon where he was assessed by, but not admitted, to its at risk unit.
He died less than twelve hours later.
The death has been referred to the coroner for an inquest.
Rimutaka Prison site manager Dorreen McKenzie said the department's inspectorate – which acts independently of the Public Prisons Service – would investigate.
An investigating officer from the Ombudsman's office would also help with investigations.
"Deaths in custody are rare, and though staff are trained to deal with the situation, it is still distressing for everybody at the prison," Ms McKenzie said.
The man's death follows the death of inmate Rex Leonard Hopper at the prison's faith based unit on March 4.
Inmate Mani Seu, 46, has been charged with his murder.
Ms McKenzie said no connection could be drawn between the two deaths.
"The two incidents are completely unrelated and the circumstances of each are very different. The corrections system has to deal with a high proportion of people with a propensity to self-harm and while the department does all it can to prevent this sometimes it is not possible."
The department's annual report from last year showed that in 2002/2003 there were five assumed suicides and one murder in New Zealand prisons.
24 March 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/images/null.gif
Rimutaka Prison in Upper Hutt is dealing with its second death in custody this month after the discovery of the body of a 40 year-old man.
The Corrections Department confirmed the man, believed to be from Tawa, north of Wellington was found dead in his cell at 1am yesterday.
It is understood that yesterday the man had appeared at Porirua District Court on a charge of assault with intent to injure a female.
It is believed he was taken to Rimutaka Prison early that afternoon where he was assessed by, but not admitted, to its at risk unit.
He died less than twelve hours later.
The death has been referred to the coroner for an inquest.
Rimutaka Prison site manager Dorreen McKenzie said the department's inspectorate – which acts independently of the Public Prisons Service – would investigate.
An investigating officer from the Ombudsman's office would also help with investigations.
"Deaths in custody are rare, and though staff are trained to deal with the situation, it is still distressing for everybody at the prison," Ms McKenzie said.
The man's death follows the death of inmate Rex Leonard Hopper at the prison's faith based unit on March 4.
Inmate Mani Seu, 46, has been charged with his murder.
Ms McKenzie said no connection could be drawn between the two deaths.
"The two incidents are completely unrelated and the circumstances of each are very different. The corrections system has to deal with a high proportion of people with a propensity to self-harm and while the department does all it can to prevent this sometimes it is not possible."
The department's annual report from last year showed that in 2002/2003 there were five assumed suicides and one murder in New Zealand prisons.