Two more deaths, same old problems
29 July 2013
Two more deaths, same old problems
The Howard League – Wellington Branch thanks Peter Williams QC and Heeni Phillips for attending the inquests into the deaths at Ngawha Prison of Eruera Murray and George Little. Peter was previously the President of the Auckland Branch of the Howard League.
Although we no longer have an Auckland Branch of the Howard League we are proudly associated with Peter William’s organization, the NZ Prison Reform Society.
“Isolation and a lack of access to whanau and personal property are known contributing factors to suicide”, says Madeleine Rose, spokesperson for the Howard League Wellington. “We would like to see an end to 23 hour lockdowns in New Zealand prisons”.
“Not only does such isolation lead to psychological harm, but it also will in no way assist in the successful rehabilitation of criminals. Surely the goal is to have people less likely to reoffend when released from prison, not more likely,” Rose said.
The Howard League awaits the Coroner’s reports into these deaths.
Ends