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Canberra Today 18°/23° | Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Death at the prison

Alexander Maconochie Centre, jail, prison

ACT Policing is investigating a death which occurred this morning at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (Friday, 27 May).

About 11.30am, police received a report of a 25-year-old male detainee deceased in his cell.

ACT Policing Criminal Investigations is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be prepared for the ACT Coroner.

Given the matter is under investigation it is inappropriate to make any further comment.

Police remind people they should not report crime information via Facebook and Twitter pages.


UPDATE: Shane Rattenbury has made a statement:

I regret to inform the community that a 25-year-old male detainee has died at the Alexander Maconochie Centre today.

The incident is now being investigated as a death in custody by ACT Policing Criminal Investigations and a coronial inquest will be held. This is the standard process for all deaths in custody.

The next-of-kin have been notified of the death and the person’s name will not be released at this time.

On behalf of the ACT Government, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the individual. This will be a difficult time for them and I ask that you respect their privacy.

Any death in custody is a tragedy and of deepest concern. There are particular sensitivities surrounding the individual and, as such, I will be launching an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the care and supervision of the detainee during their period of incarceration. The terms of reference are currently being considered and I intend to provide further details next week.

I am advised that the discovery was made when Corrective Services staff were notified by a detainee that they were concerned about the health of another detainee. I am further advised that no disturbances were reported around the time of the incident.

No further details can be provided at this time.

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Ian Meikle, editor

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