Jail rioters sentenced
TWO Lotus Glen inmates who helped cause $85,000 of damage during a prison riot in February told their lawyers they could not recall why they joined the violent mob.
Joshua Purcell and Killima Kris took part in the riot that wrecked parts of Lotus Glen Correctional Facility.
Cairns District Court heard the two men could not remember why they joined the fray.
“Mr Kris said he has no idea why he got caught up,” defence barrister James Sheridan said. “He said he was extremely stressed at the time – he can’t exactly say why he got involved.”
Kris, 24, this week pleaded guilty to riot and unlawful damage.
Purcell, 19, pleaded guilty to the same charges in addition to assault occasioning bodily harm, assault occasioning bodily harm in company and unlawful assembly.
The riot – organised by Jordan Malone, 21 – was eventually dispersed by prison officers wielding “fogger” and muzzle-blast munitions.
At the time the inmates were protesting conditions at the prison.
The riot damage needed $53,000 in materials and $32,000 in labour to repair.
While sentencing Malone and the other riot ringleaders in October, Judge Tracey Fantin said shortfalls at Lotus Glen were well known.
“Overcrowding … means that no or few jobs are available, limiting prisoners’ ability to progress to parole ... It is operating well over its built capacity,” she said.
Despite being punished with solitary confinement and restricted privilege, Purcell again stirred up an uprising against guards on May 14.
The court heard he “took umbrage” over being forced to hurry his farewell to another inmate, so punched a 62-year-old female guard and assaulted another officer, 50.
Purcell and other prisoners armed themselves with brooms and mop buckets and threatened corrections officers.
Judge Fantin said Purcell had made a “really stupid decision”, as he was already eligible for parole in April.
She said that the sentences for the riot and assaults would be served on top of whatever remained of their original sentence.
She sentenced Kris to four months in custody and Purcell to 12 months.