30 September 2011

Questions remain over security breach at Barwon Prison

NO prison officers have been disciplined even though the fatal bashing of Carl Williams was captured by a live CCTV feed that was not picked up.

Authorities have acknowledged systemic issues in Barwon Jail after Matthew Johnson was able to bludgeon Williams to death with an exercise bike pole.

But the Baillieu Government has vowed to stand by Justice Department secretary Penny Armytage amid questions over her approval of moving Williams from isolation at the prison into a unit with Johnson and Tom Ivanovic.

Johnson has told how he could not believe he had time to bash Carl Williams eight times in the head and drag his body into a cell.

The man who calls himself "The General" had expected prison guards to storm the high-security Acacia Unit 1 well before he rained down his eighth blow in full view of the dayroom's two security cameras.


"In my mind I thought the officers would have got there before I finished hitting him," Johnson admitted during his trial.

A coronial inquest will investigate how Carl Williams was able to be killed.

The Herald Sun has posed crucial questions to Corrections Victoria about the murder.

A spokesman last night acknowledged its investigation had already identified "systemic issues".

But the spokesman said: "No prison staff have been disciplined and Corrections Victoria's focus has been to improve the way we operate across all prisons.

"There are further proceedings currently that need to run their course.

"Exercise bikes are still in some units, but Corrections Victoria has taken steps to secure loose parts."

Surprisingly, Johnson had access to an exercise bike - and a sandwich maker - in the unit day room.

Surprising because Johnson was involved in the gang bashing of prisoner Greg Brazel in the Acacia Unit's exercise yard 4 in October 1998.

A bike seat and sandwich maker were used as makeshift weapons during that assault on Brazel.

Questions have also been raised over the decision to move Williams into a unit with Johnson and Ivanovic.

Ivanovic, it was submitted in court, had former links with a former police officer who Williams was making claims against.

It is believed a secret briefing paper written by Ms Armytage to three senior ministers explains how she came to make the fateful decision, and identifies senior police and corrections officers who were involved.

A Justice Department spokesperson said Ms Armytage endorsed "high-profile or highly sensitive" placements based on factors including staff's risk assessments, prisoners' own views, and police advice.

A spokesman for Premier Ted Baillieu said: "The Government has and retains full confidence in Penny Armytage."

heraldsun.com.au 30 Sep 2011

The mass media and subsequently the legal system has not mentioned that the prison guards have been payed off by the drug syndicate.

Even though prisoners are in confinement, their contact with the outside world greatly effects the guards standard of work.

A much more effective system has been established by prisoners in that guards are rewarded for actions that are conducive to the prisoner.

This has been well known to authorities for quite some time, as the corruption stem to the legals system's lawyers and judges.

There is deliberately no action taken against the corruption within the system.

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