What Borce Ristevski’s time in jail is expected be like
BORCE Ristevski faces a Christmas far different to his usual celebrations at his million-dollar Avondale Heights home. Here’s what his life is likely to be like in jail as he stares at a long stint before his next court hearing in April.
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BORCE Ristevski faces a Christmas far different to his usual celebrations at his million-dollar Avondale Heights home.
Mr Ristevski is staring at a long stint in jail before his next court hearing in April. His time inside is likely to be even more onerous because he will likely be in protective custody, considering his profile.
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Prison sources told the Herald Sun remand prisoners were shoved into windowless, overcrowded cells with no entertainment. Other prisoners are often suffering mental illness or coming down from drugs.
The mentally ill scream so loud at the custody centre, they can be heard from the courtrooms upstairs.
According to sources, it is likely Mr Ristevski will be held at the custody centre beneath the Magistrates’ Court until the cells are cleared before the weekend influx of drunks and wife bashers.
From there, he is likely to be moved to the Metropolitan Remand Centre at Ravenhall, or a suburban cell.
Most alleged adult male offenders on remand are held at the Metropolitan Remand Centre after being received at the Melbourne Assessment Prison on Spencer St. But Mr Ristevski could also be held at other prisons including Karreenga or Port Phillip where he could have a maximum of four hour-long visits a week.
While it may one day become home, for the uninitiated the MRC is by all accounts a very intimidating environment.
It is a place where there is a settling-in process and inmates are sent to an induction program so they know what is expected of them from fellow prisoners.
It’s where authorities will hold Mr Ristevski before being moved to a mainstream prison.
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But because of his status, and high profile, Mr Ristevski is likely to be held in protection, and spend up to 23 hours a day isolated from the general prison population.
Mr Ristevski will likely become a target for other prisoners considering the attention given to his case, well-placed sources say.
“He might get bashed, but he might not,” one high-profile criminal lawyer says.
“There’s a strange code of ethics behind bars. They don’t stand for wife beaters. And if then they think you’ve killed one, it won’t end well.’’
Like all jails, the MRC has its own rules among inmates and it takes time for newcomers to win trust in what is a potentially dangerous environment. There are four large yards where inmates can congregate outside.
A prison source said the MRC was the most comfortable, with some prisoners allowed out of their cells for up to 12 hours a day.
“TV becomes your best friend. I used to get into Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” a prison regular told the Herald Sun.