Uncle Moogy Sumner’s call for visitor access to Yatala prisoner, Robert William Junior Barnes who chewed off his finger

Aboriginal elder Uncle Moogy Sumner is calling for access to see a Yatala prisoner who has chewed off part of his finger and is on suicide watch while in solitary.

Aboriginal elder Uncle Moogy Sumner is calling for access to see a Yatala prisoner Robert William Junior Barnes. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A prisoner who reportedly chewed off his own finger after being locked up for “almost 800 days” in solitary confinement at Yatala Labour Prison has attempted suicide again, one of the state’s leading Aboriginal elders says.

Robert William Junior Barnes has been locked in a cell for 23 hours a day in the prison’s G Division and “chewed his pinky finger down to the knuckle”.

Aboriginal elder Uncle Moogy Sumner told The Advertiser the inmate attempted suicide on Tuesday — the third time in the past three months.

“He tried to cut his wrists again, what he had wasn’t sharp enough,” he says.

“He said to his sisters he’ll find something sharper to cut his throat, he’s tired of this life.

“There is going to be another death in custody, that is how dire the situation is.”

They are now calling for a formal investigation into the support being offered to Barnes and other Indigenous prisoners at Yatala, fearing it could lead to another Aboriginal death in custody.

He says Barnes’s mental health has taken a turn for the worse after the prison recently banned Uncle Moogy from visiting him.

Yatala inmate Robert William Junior Barnes chewed part of his own finger off.

Uncle Moogy Sumner speaking at the Rally. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The Aboriginal elder, who sits on SA’s First Nations Voice to Parliament, says he was denied entry to the high-security division because was a member of the advisory body.

“I’m a member of the Voice and I spoke up, that’s what the Voice is about, it’s about Aboriginal people speaking up for Aboriginal issues,” he says.

“It doesn’t matter if it is here (Yatala Labour Prison), the Nullarbor or the moon, we are going to speak up.”

More than 70 people protested outside the gates of Yatala on Tuesday, including members of the Barnes family, calling for Uncle Moogy to be given access to the inmate.

Former Aboriginal Liaison Officer Melanie Turner said she recently left her role at the prison after campaigning for Uncle Moogy’s ban to be reversed.

“I would hope that the general manager of Yatala Labour Prison realises that Aboriginal people need cultural support and cultural healing, which is the elders coming in and working with them,” Ms Turner says.

“I just want Uncle Moogy to be able to get back in there so he can help him.”

Barnes was transferred to the high security prison in 2021 after throwing a cup of urine in the face of a prison guard at Port Augusta Prison.

It came after Barnes assaulted another inmate, leaving him with a fractured eye socket, and attacked corrections officers on two occasions — one involving a metal pipe.

A Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman said the department continues to provide cultural and mental health support to identified prisoners in need across the system including at Yatala Labour Prison but could not comment on individual cases under the Correctional Services Act.

“Major Sumner is not banned from DCS sites, including Yatala Labour Prison,” she said.

“The Department appreciates the cultural support Major Sumner continues to provide in prisons, including a visit to the Adelaide Remand Centre during NAIDOC Week last week.

“Major Sumner is due to meet with DCS Chief Executive, David Brown, this week. Previous meetings have been rescheduled at Major Sumner’s request.

“An offer to visit Yatala Labour Prison next week and meet with the Aboriginal Cultural Treatment Unit team, who support prisoners placed in the maximum-security unit, has also been extended to Major Sumner.

“The Department values the contribution Elders make to our prisons, including site visits.

The safety of any visitor along with staff and prisoners is paramount when considering access, particularly to the state’s high security prisons.

For support in a crisis, Lifeline 131114.

Originally published as Uncle Moogy Sumner’s call for visitor access to Yatala prisoner, Robert William Junior Barnes who chewed off his finger