Coroner Greg Cavanagh delivers scathing review of NT Corrections in inquest findings into death of contract killer Christopher Mark Malyschko
THE NT Coroner’s report into the death of prisoner Christopher Mark Malyschko has been scathing of NT Corrections in its findings
Police & Courts
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THE NT Coroner Judge Greg Cavanagh has handed down a scathing report on NT Corrections into the death of Christopher Mark Malyschko.
Malyschko was a prisoner at Darwin Correctional Centre and was found dead in his cell on August 20, 2019.
He was convicted of the murder of Raffaeli Niceforo and was handed a non-parole period of 18 years with parole due on October 27, 2029.
Mr Cavanagh determined the cause of death was positional asphyxia due to synthetic cannabis use and obesity.
In his findings, Mr Cavanagh recalled the prison being told when the new prison was built it would provide, “the cutting edge of rehabilitation” however “that vision has to date not been fulfilled”.
He blasted NT Corrections for its inability to respond to the use of synthetic cannabis – Kronic.
“It concerned the security group members and concerned at least one of the older prisoners. But it seems it did not overly concern the prison authorities,” he said.
“They did not respond to the presence of Kronic in the Darwin Correctional Facility prior to the death of Chris. They had a drug policy and thought that should be sufficient.
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“The fact that the major forms of detection were ineffective did not prompt any form of review.”
He also flagged the failure of the prisoner information and learning system (PILS), which six years after the prison moved from Berrimah to Holtze, “still does not work”.
Mr Cavanagh found the lack of activities to entertain prisoners had led to boredom and, in turn, drug use.
He recommended that the Commissioner of Corrections, “take all necessary actions to ensure that the ability to detect and prevent the entry of synthetic cannabis into the prison is expedited”, and install CCTV cameras in the common areas and hallways of all prisoner accommodation.
He said effort should also be taken to ensure that, on the death of an inmate, the scene is not contaminated.
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He also recommended providing activities and learning to the prisoners, “so as to ensure that the failure of the PILS system does not adversely impact on their activities and rehabilitation”.
Mr Cavanagh also recommended NT Police recruit suitably qualified investigators to management and supervisory positions in the crime structure in a timely fashion.
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