Indigenous man on remand dies in NT prison

An Indigenous prisoner has been found dead at the Darwin Correctional Centre.

Fencing at a remand centre

Source: AAP

The 31-year-old’s body was discovered by correctional officers in his cell just before 6.30am on Thursday morning.

The man was being held in a low security facility on remand and police say there’s no evidence of foul play.

The Correctional Centre is the same one where Dylan Voller is currently held. Voller is the young Indigenous boy who was seen tortured, abused and forced into a spit hood in a program filmed by ABC’s Four Corners.
Still of Dylan Voller being inhumanely treated from the ABC Four Corners episode 'Australia's Shame'.
Still of Dylan Voller being inhumanely treated from the ABC Four Corners episode 'Australia's Shame'. Source: ABC Australia
Voller’s lawyer, Peter O’Brien, says three of the same guards who were present during the time of Dylan’s abuse are working in the same centre.

“It demonstrates overwhelmingly the need to extract Dylan Voller from the prison immediately,” O’Brien said.

“I emphasise that we are assisting authorities for plans on his imminent release and were very hopeful that the paroles society can assure this young man’s release is as soon as possible.”

Mr O’Brien says he is concerned about the standard of care and the treatment of prisoners in the NT.

"I’m particularly concerned that there is a growing body of evidence that children in detention, who are handled in brutal and violent ways are ending up in adult prison - and the options for rehabilitation appear to be very much secondary to punishment and that is a poor reflection on society.”
Correctional officers attempted to revive the prisoner but he did not respond to their resuscitation attempts.

Counselling will be made available to the prisoner’s family as well as correctional staff and prisoners.

NT Police are investigating the circumstances of the death and will prepare a report for the Coroner.

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2 min read
Published 25 August 2016 3:21pm
Updated 25 August 2016 3:30pm
By Laura Morelli


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