Coroner examines Nuku Strange prison death and treatment

A coroner's inquest is being held into the death of Nukuroa Harry Strange in Invercargill Prison on August 4, 2022.

The care of a man who died in prison is in the spotlight as a coroner weighs up the adequacy of the mental health treatment he received.

Nukuroa Harry Kaahu Strange, 30, died at Invercargill Prison on August 4, 2022.

He had attempted suicide in the weeks and months before his death and had been in and out of the prison’s intervention and support unit (ISU).

He was released from the ISU a day before his death.

An inquest is now considering how Department of Corrections staff handled risk assessments, management, wellbeing and treatment processes in the lead-up to his death.

The actions of Corrections staff on the day he died will be of specific interest to the coroner during this week’s hearing in the Invercargill District Court.

Coroner Amelia Steel said the inquiry would examine the circumstances in which Strange died and look for opportunities to reduce the chances of others dying in similar circumstances.

The inquiry was not about blame but about accountability, Coroner Steel said.

Ex-prisoners give statements

Prisoners in custody with Strange at the time of his death gave statements, as did Corrections staff from the prison.

In a statement read to the court, Strange’s former partner said he had been using methamphetamine before he was taken into custody, about four months prior to his death.

They would speak regularly over the phone and she became increasingly concerned about his wellbeing in prison after she heard he had attempted suicide.

The woman said she rang the prison and told a staffer Strange needed to be put on watch.

Strange, who was on remand, had told her he was facing an eight-year jail sentence, she said.

She struggled with the relationship and decided to end it, but said she remained on good terms with Strange.

She said Strange rang her twice on the day he died, angry and crying, saying he had been put on a management plan at the prison.

Told partner he loved her

He rang a second time and told her he loved her, she said.

Strange’s cousin was in the same unit at the prison and said Strange had attempted suicide in June 2022.

He was in a neighbouring cell and alerted prison officers.

Nuku Strange died in Invercargill Prison. Photo / Otago Daily Times

The pair were sent to the ISU after the incident.

He said Strange was released into the general prison population too soon after that incident.

“When he was back, he wasn’t good, he seemed really down, I could tell.

“He wasn’t coping.”

Strange visibly upset

Another inmate said he saw Strange on the day of his death on the prison phone, visibly upset.

He said he told an officer he was concerned about Strange and saw them go to speak with him.

The inmate said he was aware of the earlier suicide attempt and of the time Strange had spent in the ISU.

He said he was also aware Strange had attempted suicide in July.

“To have two attempts like that, something was wrong.

“He had just come back from ISU. Someone needed to check on him; he was upset.”

A senior Corrections officer who interviewed Strange on the day before his death said he had known him for a number of years.

He said he felt comfortable with Strange leaving ISU.

“When we exit out of ISU, we do it on understanding and conversations.

“I had assurity at that moment in time that he could be exited out of ISU.”

Another officer said they knew Strange well as he had been in and out of the prison over several years.

The officer said they spoke with Strange on the day he was released from ISU.

“I got on quite well with him. He was always polite. It appeared he was pleased to be back.

“He said all the things at the right time that led me to believe he was okay.”

The inquest is scheduled to run for five days.

Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the Hauraki-Coromandel Post, based in Whangamatā. He was previously deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.