Notorious armed robber and prisoner Anthony John Smith in hospital as he enters 14th day of hunger strike
There’s been another major development in the lengthy hunger strike of a notorious prisoner serving a 30-year jail sentence.
SA News
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Notorious armed robber Anthony John Smith, who went on a hunger strike in protest against a decision to transfer him to Port Augusta, has won his fight and been returned to Yatala Labour Prison after being released from the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Seven News reported Sunday night that Smith had ended his hunger strike and was agreeing to eat meals and had been taken back to Yatala.
Smith had been admitted to hospital on Wednesday after a two week long hunger-strike, which started after he was relocated from Yatala Labour Prison to Port Augusta, last week.
Smith was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) on Wednesday afternoon, after 14 days without food.
The inmate, who is serving a 30-year sentence, is striking in protest of the transfer claiming it took him further away from his family, and is seeking to return to Yatala Labour Prison.
The Advertiser understands Mr Smith’s next of kin had been refused an update on his health condition in the RAH, denied visitations rights, and had not been allowed to send or receive mail since his hunger strike began.
On Wednesday July 10, Smith’s relative posted on social media expressing concerns for his health and wellbeing, and said he was “mentally and emotionally” affected after not eating since Wednesday, July 3.
“The last time I spoke to him was yesterday afternoon around 2.15pm (Wednesday),” his relative said.
“He was on his seventh day without food, struggling both mentally and emotionally (and) his wellbeing has been at high risk for days.
“This situation is about more than just a transfer, it highlights the ongoing injustices and inhumane treatment he has endured.”
The Advertiser also understands that Mr Smith’s family were fearful he would become another Aboriginal Death in Custody, despite the 339 recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC).
The recommendations are mainly concerned with procedures for people in custody, better liaison with Aboriginal groups and improved accessibility to information.
Since 1991, there have been more than 540 Aboriginal people who have died while in custody.
The Department for Correctional Services (DCS) has previously declined to comment on why Smith was transferred to Port Augusta Prison in the first place.
His relative accused the department of denying Smith his “basic human rights” of not being given the opportunity of rehabilitation, having served more than seven years in total out of his 30 years in 23-hour lockdown.
“There has been no real progress regarding Tony’s situation for as long as I can remember,” she said at the time.
Smith has served 24 years of his sentence, after he pleaded guilty to multiple armed robberies committed in 1999 and 2000.
In February 2003, District Court Judge Ann Vanstone, sentenced Smith to 12 years for robbing the Buckingham Arms hotel at Walkerville, 7 1/2 years for robbing an ANZ bank and 18 years for a robbery at Myrtle Bank, totalling 37 1/2 years’ jail.
However, Judge Vanstone reduced that to 30 years so as not to be “crushing” under SA law, and then imposed an 18-year non-parole period.
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