Coroner criticises unsafe prisons

From: AAP

By Lauren Ahwan

April 28, 2006

A MENTALLY-ill man who hanged himself in jail was placed in a cell that was far from suicide-proof, a coroner has found.

Darryl Kym Walker, 31, was placed in an isolated section of South Australia's Port Lincoln prison, contrary to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

He was found hanging from a bed sheet near the cell's shower block in June, 2003, less than 10 minutes after he was last checked by prison officers.

Attempts to resuscitate Mr Walker, who suffered chronic schizophrenia and significant behavioural problems, failed.

SA Coroner Elizabeth Sheppard today criticised aspects of Mr Walker's detention, as well as statements by prison officers that they had checked the cell for potential hazards.

"If this check was done, it must have been cursory at best," she said.

"A glance of the unit as depicted in photographs taken of that area shortly after Mr Walker's death reveal a number of items ... which were potentially hazardous.

"Included in these items were lengths of cable, a plastic bag, a cigarette lighter, a plastic bucket and a larger metal bin.

"An obvious hanging point ... was the open grille above the doorway into he shower block.

"Mr Walker was provided with bed sheets and was wearing footwear with shoe laces.

"He was an Aboriginal prisoner in custody, suffering from a deterioration in his mental illness.

"These two factors increased his risk of committing an act of self harm."

Ms Sheppard said the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which reported its findings in 1991, recommended that Aboriginal prisoners should not be placed alone in police cells – a recommendation that had been reinforced to SA prison managers since Mr Walker's death.

She further recommended regular inspections of all state prisons to identify and eliminate potential hanging points and ensure cells were safe.

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