INMATE WAS ‘NOT AT RISK’

Murder-accused Matthew White bashed, but jail says ...

MOMENTS before the accused killer of Cooktown mum Donna Steele was brutally bashed by fellow inmates in jail, he was deemed a low-risk prisoner by corrective services officials.

Queensland Corrective Services has launched an investigation into the assault of Matthew Ross White, 25, (left) who suffered head injuries in an altercation with four other prisoners at Lotus Glen Correctional Facility on Tuesday about 4.15pm. It is understood the attack occurred just minutes after Mr White had been processed for incarceration at the Tablelands prison.

He was transported immediately by paramedics to Mareeba Hospital for treatment, where he remained in a stable condition yesterday.

The Cairns Post understands he was kicked at least once in the head when he was lying on the ground .

It is also believed that yesterday he was taken by ambulance to Atherton Hospital for CT scans of his head and brain.

Mr White was arrested at his Mooroobool home on Friday and charged with the murder of Ms Steele, 42, whose wrapped body was found in a creek near Cooktown, in August last year.

The young father was also charged with interfering with a corpse and entering a dwelling with intent.

Police have alleged that he broke into Ms Steele’s home, ambushed the mother-of-two, killed her and then dumped her body at a creek at Leggett’s Crossing about 15km away from her home. He faced Cairns Magistrates Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody until May 2.

Prison sources yesterday described the attack on Mr White as “brutal” and praised the actions of a sole inmate who broke up the affray, ultimately saving the 25-yearold’s life.

They have raised concerns why Mr White was not placed in a more secure area within the correctional facility, given the high-profile nature of his charges.

A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said the department was investigating the attack.

“The Corrective Services Investigation Unit investigates all assaults committed in Queensland prisons,” she said.

“Each prisoner is appropriately assessed against a number of risk factors prior to accommodation placement.

“There was no intelligence to indicate the prisoner was an elevated risk when he was allocated within the prison environment.”