Chris Malyschko was not a ‘cold-blooded killer’, his mother Bronwyn Buttery says at final day of inquest into his death

CHRISTOPHER Malyschko was a ‘good and loving man’ who would do anything for his mum, rather than the ‘cold-blooded killer he has been portrayed as’, according to his mother Bronwyn Buttery.

Chris Malyschko as photographed by police shortly after his arrest in October 2011 (photo copied from Brief of Evidence).

• Convicted killer Bradley Murdoch makes first public appearance in years at Chris Malyschko inquest, as Zak Grieve also testifies
• Bradley Murdoch, Zak Grieve to give evidence at inquest into Chris Malyschko’s death in prison

CHRISTOPHER Malyschko would not have died if the prison he was in had provided more recreational and educational opportunities for the inmates and did more to stop drugs getting in, according to his mother Bronwyn Buttery.

Ms Buttery made the comments as a three-day inquest into the death of her son in the Darwin Correctional Centre wrapped up yesterday.

The inquest heard Malyschkoko, 31, died last August after he passed out facedown on the floor of his cell from use of synthetic cannabis, known as Kronic, and asphyxiated due to his obesity.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Kelvin Currie, told the inquest yesterday that Kronic had become rife throughout the prison because of boredom, with prisoners having very little access to recreational and educational activities.

Bronwyn Buttery (right) speaking to David Munro, the Officer in Charge of the investigation into her son’s death, at the Darwin Local Court. Picture: Che Chorley

He said when prisoners were moved from the previous facility in Berrimah to the new one in Holtze in 2014, they were not allowed to bring any recreational goods such as books, DVDs or instruments with them.

Instead, Correctional Services was supposed to roll out a new interactive learning system for each inmate, which six years later had still not come to fruition.

Mr Currie also said the prison was not aware of how big a problem Kronic had become because it is untraceable in urine tests and by sniffer dogs.

However, he said some prison staff were aware of how prevalent the drug was, and not enough was being done to stop it getting in.

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“There is some evidence that they may have increased random searches, but if that happened it did nothing to stop the flow and use of Kronic,” Mr Currie said.

However, Counsel for Correctional Services, Helena Blundell, said while the care, supervision and management of Holtze inmates was not perfect, it was not “inadequate.”

Malyschko had served eight years of a life sentence for the killing of Ray Niceforo – his mother’s abusive ex-partner – in 2011 in Katherine.

A court sketch of convicted killer Bradley Murdoch at his first public appearance in years at the Chris Malyschko inquest on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Artist: Stuart Thornton

Ms Buttery pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was released on parole several years ago.

Ms Buttery said she believed the care for her son was inadequate, and he would still be alive if not for the issues pointed out by Mr Currie.

“My hope is the outcome of this inquest will stop another mother, brother, father, sister from going through what my family have gone through,” she said.

“I am a mother grieving the premature death of her first born child.

“I am proud of the man he was.”

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The findings of the inquest will be handed down on a date to be set.

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