Three investigations into custody death

Published: 8:26AM Saturday August 26, 2006 Source: RNZ

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Three separate investigations are being launched after a teenager died in the custody of the Corrections Department.

Liam Ashley, 17, died on Friday after being found injured and unconscious in a private security van at Mt Eden Prison. 

He had been taken to the jail's remand centre with other prisoners, after appearing in North Shore District Court. 

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Kramer says the police have begun a homicide investigation and will continue speaking to prisoners in the van and remand centre staff on Saturday. 

The Corrections Department has launched its own investigation, and says the death will also be the subject of a coroner's inquest. 

Prisoners

Meanwhile, police have revealed 13 other prisoners were being transported in the security van, in which Ashley was attacked, but only two are being treated  as suspects. 

Kramer says the van was divided up into secure sections and there were two other prisoners in the same compartment as Ashley. He says they are the focus of the police inquiry. 

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