Family is still looking for answers

Two months after he was assaulted in his prison cell the family of a man who died from his injuries are still searching for answers about what happened.

Bradley King died a fortnight after being attacked by his cellmate in Manawatu¯ Prison on February 11, but prison authorities are remaining tightlipped about events that evening.

It’s understood the assault happened about 11pm.

St John has confirmed it received a 111 call at 11.40pm, before taking King to Palmerston North Hospital in a critical condition. From there he was flown to Wellington, where he died on February 24.

Stuff understands St John got to the prison about midnight and King arrived at the hospital’s emergency department about 50 minutes later.

King’s family was contacted about an hour later. They have said seeing him was a shock, as nobody had prepared them for how bad his injuries would be.

Spokesman for the family, Scott Guthrie, said the delay in contacting them still hadn’t been explained. ‘‘They are not happy. They want to know why it took so long.’’

This was especially concerning given paramedics would have told prison staff King’s injuries were critical. ‘‘You’d think the family would have been notified there and then.’’

Stuff asked the Corrections Department when prison staff found King and about the delay in contacting his family.

Prisons have health centres staffed by registered nurses. Corrections was also asked if a medical professional was on duty at Manawatu¯ Prison the night of the assault and if someone was on duty at all times.

In response, a Corrections spokesperson said: ‘‘As Mr King’s death remains subject to active investigations, including by the police and the independent Corrections inspectorate, we are limited in the amount of detail we are able to provide and are unable to provide further comment at this stage.’’

A man has been charged with wounding King with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and is due to appear in the Dannevirke District Court later this month.

Acting Central District police field crime manager, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan, said a homicide investigation was continuing. This included looking at the possibility of laying further charges. ‘‘We’ve got a team of investigators still working on it. We are in regular communication with the victim’s family and we also have regular communication with Corrections.’’

Corrections has completed an internal ‘‘operational review’’ into the incident, but won’t release it due to the investigation.