How Thompson Harvey died in Rockhampton prison after Mackay shooting

Answers into how an accused attempted murderer was found dead in a prison cell after suffering a gunshot wound to the head have been revealed in a coroners report.

Capricornia Correctional Centre at Rockhampton.

A coroner’s report has revealed the events before an accused attempted murderer who survived a gunshot to the head was found dead in a prison cell.

Thompson James Harvey, 33, died on November 13, 2017, while on remand in Capricornia Correctional Centre after being charged with serious assault of a police officer, attempted robbery and attempted murder, which allegedly occurred in Mackay a fortnight beforehand on October 31.

Mr Harvey arrested on November 2 for the police incident and discharged from Mackay Base Hospital to the Mackay watchhouse on November 5, 2017.

Eight days later, he was found dead in his cell at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Queensland Coroner Terry Ryan released his findings this month, stating vital medical and psychological information was not passed on to relevant people as Mr Harvey was moved from the hospital to the watchhouse and onto the prison.

Methamphetamine.

The New Zealand father-of-one travelled to Australia to work in the mining industry in 2011 and was living in Mackay with his partner.

The allegations of attempted murder and other charges all arose from one incident.

Mr Harvey was in allegedly found in possession of a firearm in Mackay and while he was pursued by police on foot, he fired several shots.

He was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, which he survived, and was placed into an induced coma at Mackay Base Hospital.

Mr Harvey said he had last used drugs on the day of the shooting and a toxicology sample taken at 9:51pm that night confirmed the presence of amphetamines and benzodiazepines.

He had been using methamphetamine, amphetamine, heroin and morphine following a relationship breakdown.

The only surgical intervention required was a washout of his scalp, removal of bullet fragments that had not pierced his skull and painkillers.

Mackay Base Hospital.

Mr Ryan said there were multiple failures by Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) staff, including failing to discuss the need to carry out CPR and completely filling out the Death in Custody checklist.

When Mr Thompson woke from the coma in hospital he said he was having suicidal thoughts and he was assessed multiple times in hospital, at the Mackay watchhouse and at the Etna Creek prison and was identified as a high risk of suicide at the watchhouse.

When Mr Harvey arrived at the prison about 9am on November 7, his mental health was again assessed and he revealed his past substance abuse and suicidal thoughts, but he denied having suicidal thoughts at that moment in time.

Mr Harvey was initially observed hourly in the prison, but after multiple assessments his risk levels were downgraded and he was being observed every two hours in the 3.5 days prior to his death.

The last time Mr Harvey was observed alive at the jail on the day he died was 5am when he pulled the blanket down from his face when a prisoner officer knocked on his cell door.

More than two hours later, he was found dead in the cell.

The inquest into his death was held at Brisbane on April 19 and 20, 2023, and Queensland Coroner Terry Ryan released his findings this month.

Inside the Capricornia Correctional Centre.

The Office of the Chief Inspector (OCI) Report noted that while the prison psychologist believed that Mr Harvey had ‘protective factors that helped people deal effectively with stressful events or reduce risk of harm, including that he had reconciled with his partner, no collateral checks were carried out to identify whether there was any truth to this assertion.

Mr Ryan found the psychological assessment of Mr Harvey when he first arrived at the prison was insufficient and uncompleted, resulting in Mr Harvey not being observed as often as required had the assessment been completed.

‘YOU CANNOT JUST ACCEPT WHAT THEY SAY’

Forensic psychologist Dr Gavan Palk told the Coroners Court it was difficult to believe that Mr Harvey did not have any welfare needs or major psychological problems considering his past, according to the report.

“He had recently made a very serious attempt to kill himself and there were reports of at least two prior suicide attempts (overdose on pills in 2014 and attempted hanging prior to 2011) related to relationship breakdowns coupled with his history of poly-substance misuse and antisociality,” Dr Palk stated.

He said prisoners might lie about their mental state as they do not want to be in a smock or padded cell, or may be actively planning to

suicide.

“You cannot just accept what they say when they have just attempted and have a pattern of attempts, relationship breakdown, and substance misuse,” Dr Palk said.

During the final 3.5 days of Mr Harvey’s life, there were no concerns noted by anyone who conducted those observations.

Mr Harvey intentionally hanged himself from the intercom box attached to the wall of his cell.

The OCI found there was information available to QCS at the time that indicated that Mr Harvey was not being entirely truth with prison staff about his risk of suicide and self-harm.

Queensland Coroner Terry Ryan. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Among Mr Ryan’s recommendations, he suggested prison officers responsible for assessing a prisoner’s ‘at risk status’ should be reminded to give consideration to all available information and how it correlates with the prisoner’s self-reporting.

He further recommends prison officers should be reminded to seek out information not directly available for collateral checks and verification of a prisoner’s self-reporting, to give consideration to a prisoner’s individual risks and needs.

Mr Ryan also suggested QCS investigate the feasibility of changing infrastructure of secure accommodation areas to provide ‘safe cells’.

tant.