Prisoner with blood cancer forced to share to cell with coronavirus-infected cellmate

One of Sydney’s biggest jails, run by a private company, has been put on notice after a prisoner with blood cancer was left in a cell for six days with a coronavirus-infected cellmate.

One of Sydney’s biggest jails, run by a private company, has been put on notice after a prisoner with blood cancer was left in a cell for six days with a coronavirus-infected cellmate.

Officials at Parklea Correctional Centre have been unable to answer a “please explain” from a justice of the Supreme Court this week after the dire allegations were raised as the man’s legal team fought to get him released on bail.

Army vet Michael Brown’s lawyers and doctors in documents tendered to court alleged while on remand at Parklea Correctional Centre he was left in a cell for six days with another inmate who had Covid-19.

Brown has a life threatening form of blood cancer which was diagnosed prior to him coming into Parklea

According to court documents, after his cellmate tested positive Brown repeatedly tried to explain to Parklea staff he had a serious health condition when the infected man was sent back to his cell.

His lawyers told the court staff were aware of his health conditions and was only removed from the cell when his GP pleaded to immediately get him treatment.

The state’s jails have been struggling to keep a handle on the recent outbreak spreading behind bars that has seen dozens of inmates from jails like Bathurst and Goulburn infected with the deadly disease.

Brown has been in Parklea, run by MTC-Broadspectrum, since July after police raided his Picton home and charged him with possessing explosive materials, a banned firearm, firearm parts and several counts of possessing ammo.

The AFP uncovered the trove of weapons and explosive device chemicals after also searching a property belonging to his parents.

The 54-year-old’s doctors pleaded with the jail officials that Brown needed chemotherapy within weeks after learning of his exposure to the virus.

Corrections had been given a week to supply documents to the Supreme Court outlining the situation after the bombshell dropped by Brown’s barrister Ed Anderson left Justice Mark Ierace livid.

Crown prosecutor Scott Jaeger, on Friday, told the court none of the documents provided by jail officials could dispute the claim Brown was left exposed to coronavirus for almost a week.

“I made a number of attempts to obtain that info but I haven’t been able to obtain anything that disputes that,” Mr Jaeger said.

“I can’t really cavil with what the doctors have said, I have no information I can challenge that with.”

Brown spent 20 years in the air force, rising to the rank of sergeant and colonel in counter terror roles before being discharged in 2019, the court was told.

MTC-Broadspectrum were contacted for comment but did not respond to several questions by the time of writing.

On Friday Justice Ierace granted Brown strict bail on several conditions akin to 24/7 hours arrest.

Covid-infected prisoner ’on verge of death’

By Perry Duffin

A prisoner is fighting for his life after contracting Covid, with the jail system now potentially facing its first fatal case after a sweeping outbreak.

The man, who The Saturday Telegraph has chosen not to name, had his case called in Burwood Local Court on Friday, October 8.

The court heard the man, who allegedly breached a domestic violence order, was extremely ill with the virus.

The Covid ICU ward at RPA Hospital. It is not known which hospital is caring for the infected prisoner. Picture: Richard Dobson

A magistrate ordered he be released with no bail conditions and noted the prisoner was in the intensive care unit. Sources said he was on the verge of death.

Government departments who manage prisoner health could not comment because of medical privacy.

If he does not survive, the man is expected to be the first fatal Covid case of a person in custody in NSW.

Last week a parliamentary inquiry heard a youth corrections officer had died after contracting the virus in the community.

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