Family of a Gisborne man who died in Hawke's Bay Prison staged a protest yesterday over what they say is a lack of answers about how he died.
Remand prisoner Colby Heta, 33, died on the night of March 17, and the matter is currently being investigated by police on behalf of a Coroner.
Police are understood to have been viewing CCTV surveillance images, and officers had been at the prison near Hastings at least as recently as Thursday continuing inquiries.
Sources say the inmate died sometime after having been restrained by officers, but police say that a post mortem has attributed the death to a "medical event", although inquiries are continuing to establish what may have caused that event.
A small number of family arrived at the prison gates with placards about 10am yesterday, one member saying: "The justice system failed to protect him. We want answers."
Family spokesperson Yvonne Bishop, whose daughter-in-law is Colby Heta's sister, said marks on his body included those from handcuffs.
She said family had been told "no real reason" for why he had died, for family believed he was healthy and not suicidal.
"We received the body on Sunday and he was buried on Tuesday in Gisborne," she said. "While we had him open my daughter-in-law wanted to dress him but the people at the funeral parlour would not let her. It was terrible, he had handcuff marks."
In his casket at the marae, his appearance changed dramatically, and he also had what she said was "a big hole" in his head and "looked like he had shrapnel on the side of his face."
"He was a cheeky, mischief boy," she said. "He was not violent or aggressive. He was looking forward to getting out and going home to help his mother look after the younger children. All of a sudden he dies and there's no explanation."
Hawke's Bay Regional Prison acting director Nephi Hall reiterated yesterday police are investigating on behalf of the Coroner, who would determine the cause of death. The Corrections Inspectorate will also carry out a review.
He said he had "personally" expressed condolences to the family and will be "keeping in touch with them".
Until such time as the cause of death is determined, I appreciate that this will be unsettling for the whanau," he said.