Man sues over loss of fingers to jail saw

A FORMER prison inmate who lost three fingers helping a convicted killer use a circular saw in a jail workshop is suing Queensland Corrective Services for negligence.

Glen Cumming was serving a sentence in Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in late 2016 when murderer Hamish Murray asked him to help guide a piece of timber lengthwise through the saw.

According to documents filed in the Cairns District Court the wood became jammed in the machinery and Cumming’s hand went through, partially amputating the middle three fingers.

“Suddenly and unexpectedly the piece of timber appeared to catch or jam in the saw blade, the plaintiff’s hand then moved from a stationary position on top of the piece of timber and his left hand then partially fed through the saw blade,” Cumming’s solicitor John Magoffin claimed in an affidavit.

“At all material times, the plaintiff was acting under an instruction given to him by a prison officer to perform work duties in the prison workshop.”

Mr Magoffin's affidavit claimed the QCS had a duty of care to those inside the Correctional Centre.

He alleged Cumming was not given proper training and the saw was set up dangerously without a guard attached.

Cumming was released from jail in September this year with his solicitor filing the claim this month.

Mr Magoffin said the extent of his injury needed to be assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon so the total of the claim could not yet be calculated.

A court date is yet to be set.