NewsBite

Alleged prison rioters in solitary since May sue NT government for ‘false imprisonment’ compensation

FOUR men charged over a prison riot that caused tens of millions of dollars in damage are suing the Territory government for compensation after being locked in solitary confinement since May.

Some inmates at Holtze Prison have allegedly been in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day since a riot at the facility in May. Picture: Che Chorley
Some inmates at Holtze Prison have allegedly been in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day since a riot at the facility in May. Picture: Che Chorley

FOUR men charged over a prison riot that caused tens of millions of dollars in damage are suing the Territory government for compensation after being locked in solitary confinement since May.

Marley Campbell, Jason Reid, Clinton Price and Shane Noble were each charged with damaging property in a riot and escaping lawful confinement after the disturbance on May 13. Price was also charged with arson and Campbell with making a threat to burn or explode and assaulting a worker.

In documents filed with the Supreme Court and obtained by the NT News, the four say they have been held in various degrees of lockdown since, in violation of the Correctional Services Act.

MORE NT COURT NEWS

Lola’s Pergola owners abandon bid to fight charge for allegedly breaching coronavirus restrictions

Alleged drug dealing Territory cop accused of selling cocaine to other officer out on $10,000 bail

Cops missed ‘blood on veranda’ of house where teenage girl supposedly took her own life

In his claim, Campbell says he was moved from low security to maximum security on the day of the riot where he has since been held alone in his cell for a minimum of 23 hours a day.

Reid says he’s been held in similar conditions, being let out of solitary only for as little as 10 minutes a day on some occasions.

Price and Noble’s claims say they were moved into maximum security and only allowed out of their cell for an hour a day up until June 5, when the limit was reduced to between 20 and 30 minutes a day.

According to the documents, the four men are seeking an order from the court releasing them from solitary confinement as well as dam­ages for “false imprisonment”.

The men all say they have had no contact with other prisoners even while outside their cells, except Noble, who was allowed to see one other inmate during a two-week ­period in early June.

Last week, the NT News revealed WorkSafe inspectors refused to enter the prison to inspect the estimated at least $27m in damage because they deemed it unsafe.

A leaked email showed the inspect­ors were due to attend the prison in June but refused to do so.

LIMITED TIME: New NT News subscription offer: $1 a week for the first 12 weeks

Meanwhile, prison officers said it was absurd they’d been forced to work in a facility that the government’s own health and safety watchdog refused to enter.

“WorkSafe won’t go in there but it’s all right for us,” one officer said.

jason.walls1@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts/alleged-prison-rioters-in-solitary-since-may-sue-government-for-false-imprisonment-compensation/news-story/f9ffe61fb9c5aadac2d20b1afcb2c5f5