Christchurch Men's Prison has been revealed as a tough prison block with a strong hierarchy and sanctioned fights. Photo: NZ Herald.

Nelson man accused of murdering inmate

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Nelson inmate Akuhatua Tihi, is on trial in the Christchurch High Court for the alleged murder of a fellow prisoner at the Christchurch Men’s Prison.

The twenty-two year old from Toi Toi, along with Steven Betham and Levi Hohepa Reuben, are alleged to have attacked Benton Marni Parata on March 25.

Parata died in hospital five days later.

The New Zealand Herald reported that the trio denies murdering Parata however, although Tihi accepts he is guilty of manslaughter.

“He accepts he punched him. He accepts he assaulted him,” says Tihi’s defence counsel Phil Shamy.

CCTV shows Parata entering his cell at 9.22am, followed by Tihi who had his hands bound in white tape, Reuben and Betham then followed.

Crown prosecutor Deidre Orchard said in a “little less than 90 seconds”, Parata was battered around the head so badly he died in hospital five days later.

Almost half an hour later, Parata was found lying on his bed by a prison officer with his eyes fully swollen and shut tight. Parata was sweating heavily and only giving a minimal response to verbal commands, the court heard.

Parata was rushed to Hospital with serious facial injuries, low blood pressure, and showing clear symptoms of brain injury, including muscle spasms, and jaw clamps.

Despite emergency surgery, Parata died five days later of a brain injury.

Two days before the alleged assault, Parata told prison guards Tihi had stolen a fellow inmate’s prison-issue TV, the Crown indicated that this may have prompted the assault.

However corrections officers did not report the incident.

Up to 40 witnesses are expected to give evidence. The trial, before Justice Gerald Nation, is expected to last two weeks.

 

– with NZ Herald