'Doesn't bring Blake back' - inquest into 25-year-old murdered in maximum security prison concludes

A 25-year-old man was murdered in Auckland’s maximum security prison in March 2020, and a coroner’s inquest concluded that little could have been done to prevent the fatal attack, according to testimony from the prison’s general manager. Blake Lee, an affiliate of the Mongrel Mob gang, was stabbed to death by another inmate, Siuaki Lisiate, a senior member of the Crips gang, during an altercation in the prison yard shortly after Lee was transferred from Whanganui prison to Paremoremo. The inquest, held at the Auckland District Court, examined the circumstances surrounding Lee’s death and the measures in place to manage gang dynamics within the facility. Lee’s murder occurred hours after his arrival at Auckland Prison. At the time, there was no established policy dictating where gang members should be housed, according to testimony from the prison’s current general manager, Stephen Parr. During the final session of the inquest, Parr stated that he believed the management of gang interactions at the prison was effective, despite the tragic outcome. He emphasized that without clear signs of impending conflict, it was difficult to anticipate or prevent such attacks. “There’s little you can do to either foresee or prevent that,” he said in response to a question from the Coroner, Alexander Ho. The inquest revealed that prior to Lee’s arrival, prison protocols had been adjusted to reduce the number of prisoners allowed in the yard at any one time. Principal corrections officer Gavin De Swardt testified that the number had been cut from seven or eight to four. However, on the day of Lee’s murder, eight gang members were present in the yard, including two from the Mongrel Mob, two from the Crips, two from the Killer Beez, and two others. De Swardt admitted that he was aware of Lisiate’s history of violent behavior, having previously attacked another prisoner, Graeme Burton, with a shank. Despite this knowledge, he maintained that the placement of gang members was intended to balance their numbers and prevent tensions. De Swardt described the incident as a spontaneous attack, noting that it “just came out of the blue.” When questioned about the risks of introducing new gang members into the prison wing, he acknowledged that tensions could arise but also noted instances where gang members coexisted without conflict. “It’s like playing chess and trying to put a jigsaw puzzle together,” he explained. Lisiate, who was among 16 inmates in Auckland prison’s Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit, was known for his involvement in violent acts, though the inquest did not establish direct links between his past behavior and Lee’s murder. Teresa Absolum, Lee’s mother, attended the inquest throughout its duration. She expressed relief that some of her questions had been addressed but reiterated that the proceedings could not undo the loss of her son. “It doesn’t bring Blake back,” she told RNZ. Absolum described the emotional toll of reliving the events leading to her son’s death, stating that the process had evoked deep sorrow and anger. Her comments underscored the personal impact of the inquest beyond legal and administrative considerations. As the inquest concluded, officials acknowledged the complex challenges of managing gang dynamics within high-security facilities. While efforts were made to mitigate risk through procedural changes, the tragic nature of Lee’s death highlighted ongoing concerns about safety and oversight. The case continues to raise questions about the effectiveness of current policies in preventing violence within prisons.