Tyson Lee Trathen sentenced over 2021 Rockhampton prison riot

The motivation behind a large group of ‘unruly’ prisoners surrendering after an 18 hour jail riot has been revealed. Here’s what happened. SEE THE PHOTOS

Tyson Lee Trathen, 26, was a prisoner at Capricornia Correctional Centre when a riot broke out on October 21, 2021. He had a seven-page criminal record and was serving a sentence for breaching probation and domestic violence offences.

The motivation behind 64 prisoners ending an 18-hour prison riot that resulted in a $1.2 million damage bill can be revealed, as one of the “unruly” offenders responsible fronted court.

Tyson Lee Trathen, 26, was a prisoner at Capricornia Correctional Centre when a riot broke out on October 21, 2021.

He had a seven-page criminal record and was serving a sentence for breaching probation and domestic violence offences.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Sutton told Rockhampton District Court on March 11 Trathen damaged property, armed himself, encouraged others to participate in the riot, sniffed petrol and was one of the prisoners on the roof.

Damaged caused to the Capricornia Correctional Centre during the October 2021 riots.

He said Trathen did not participate in some of the more serious acts other prisoners have been convicted over.

Defence barrister Elliot Boddice said his client “surrendered on top of the roof” and was only charged after his release from prison.

Judge Jeff Clarke said he had heard only one of the 64 prisoners made admissions and the rest of the offenders and their crimes were identified during the investigation.

He said the prisoners surrendered because they got hungry.

“The particular incident (riot) was a very serious example of that style of offending that happened over an extended period of time and involved a large number of unruly prisoners,” Judge Clarke said.

Prisoners were broken out of their units by others, including those being held in protective custody and threatened.

Offices were ransacked with considerable damage caused by fire and flooding.

Extensive damage as a result of the 16-hour riots at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Judge Clarke said Trathen participated in the riot between 9am and 11pm when he came down from the roof.

The court heard during that time Trathen was seen and heard threatening officers who tried to lock him in his unit.

“You also held the door handle to deny the officers access to do that,” Judge Clarke said.

Trathen threw items, damaged a fridge and “actively incited others to engage in similar conduct”.

He armed himself with a broomstick and attempted to break into a vending machine with it.

Trathen then tried to open a door with the stick before damaging a fence in the exercise yard by repeatedly kicking it.

When he accessed the residential unit, he had partially covered his face and was carrying wooden stakes and a metal pole.

Trathen was seen carrying and sniffing from a bottle of fuel before gaining access to the roof via the activities centre.

He was later seen drinking from a fire hydrant hose before returning to the roof again.

Mr Boddice said Trathen’s literacy skills were poor and he did not know how to apply for parole, which resulted in him serving his full prison term in custody.

He said his client planned to return to Cairns and go bush, to reconnect with his cultural heritage, when he is released from prison.

The court heard Trathen also claimed he had been neglected by his parents and was living on the streets since he was 10 years old.

Trathen pleaded guilty to one count of riot and was jailed for 12-months, cumulative on four-month suspended sentences in April and June 2021.