Family in dark about prisoner’s injury
viewer numbers for some US esports events are tipped to overtake audience figures for traditional sports like American football in two years.
‘‘There’s a stereotype of the gamer sitting in the basement never seeing the sun but I don’t think that’s a fair one,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s some real positives coming out of gaming as opposed to social media, which appears to Corrections has apologised to a prisoner’s family after they took nine days to let them know he was in hospital with broken bones.
Mitai Angell was involved in a bloodied prison fight at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo in May 2017 resulting in a compound fracture to his left ankle and a fracture of his right tibia.
According to regulations, a manager of a prison must inform the inmate’s nominated contact person or next of kin ‘‘promptly’’ in the event of a serious illness, serious injury or the transfer of an inmate from a prison to a hospital, psychiatric hospital or secure facility.
Corrections acting national commissioner Ben Clark said Angell’s family were notified nine days after Angell’s hospital admission because of a staff member’s misunderstanding of the operations manual.
‘‘Auckland Prison’s prison director subsequently apologised to Mr Angell’s family for this misunderstanding and distress caused to them,’’ Clark said.
The violent incident at the prison, resulted in charges against guards and inmates, including Angell who is awaiting sentence.
This year, three prison guards – Wiremu Paikea, Desmond Faafoi and Viju Devassy – were all acquitted by a jury of various charges including causing grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent, and perverting the course of justice.
Angell and inmates Samuel Hutchins and Trent Wellington admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and aggravated assault.
Security footage played during the trial showed prison guard Faafoi kicking Angell while he was restrained, the Crown alleging it was a retaliatory attack.
Auckland Prison’s prison director subsequently apologised to Mr Angell’s family for this misunderstanding and distress caused to them. Ben Clark
There are genuine career paths for people in esports. It would be almost negligent not to engage with it. Mike Calvert
have almost entirely negative connotations.’’
Those applying have to outline their esports performance, including tournament history, but Calvert said they want the recipient to demonstrate success in their wider studies, and be an ambassador of health and wellbeing.
‘‘We want people . . . who will succeed academically and who The footage shows Angell lying curled up, surrounded by various Corrections officers before Faafoi kicked him in the head. The group were slipping in blood.
During the trial, Faafoi claimed he had no memory of the kicking because he was injured during the assault.
Giving evidence at the officers’ trial, senior tactical operations adviser Rob Hoogenraad who has worked as a Corrections instructor in control and restraint for 14 years, explained the restraint methods taught to officers.
Hoogenraad said Paikea had applied a foreleg lock during the incident in May last year but said there was no need for it at the time as Angell was under control.
‘‘The level of force was excessive and disproportionate.’’
Corrections said its records indicated nursing staff were alerted about five minutes after the incident began and attended to Angell about 23 minutes later. Angell was taken to the prison’s health centre before an ambulance took him to hospital.
Guards involved in the fight are still employed by Corrections but remain suspended from their positions.
Angell’s family was contacted for comment but did not respond. might go to careers in esports, but who also acknowledge the importance of staying fit and on healthy.’’
Yeoman intends to apply for the scholarship to study computer science.
His parents support his esports passion: ‘‘They’ve always supported me as long as I put the effort in at school.’’