Family want autopsy after Ivory Coast death

Catherine Sands-Wearing

The family of a New Zealander who died in an Ivory Coast jail cell want an autopsy to help prove their belief he did not commit suicide.

Hawke's Bay man Hamish Sands, 36, died just a few days after being transferred from the rebel prison in Bouake where he had been held since March 11.

Mr Sands' sister, Catherine Sands-Wearing, said today her family had received a message from him on Saturday, a day after he arrived at his new prison in Korhogo -- also in the rebel-held north of the African country.

"There was some humour in his message. He was an amazingly resilient person and he seemed in very good spirits considering the situation," Ms Sands-Wearing told a press conference in Wellington.

New Forces rebel leaders have said Mr Sands died of natural causes but that they are in favour of a transparent investigation.

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said today there had been an early report of suicide but that foul play could also not be ruled out.

"Our understanding is that Hamish was in good physical condition, and we would like an autopsy on his body," Ms Sands-Wearing said.

"We appeal to the New Forces to hold to their word and allow that autopsy to be performed... Based on the information we have, we do not believe Hamish committed suicide."

The family wanted his body returned to New Zealand, but recognised it may be difficult given the situation in the Ivory Coast.

Mr Sands, whose full name was Brian Hamish Thomas Sands, was being held on suspicion of being a mercenary, and the rebels claimed he told them he had planned to assassinate their leaders.

"We have no clearer understanding of what he was doing in Ivory Coast, but we still believe he presented no threat to the New Forces," Ms Sands-Wearing said.

The family believed mental health problems were the reason for Mr Sands' behaviour leading up to his capture.

The rebels, who have run Ivory Coast's northern region since a 2002 rebellion, claimed Mr Sands had told them he had served in the French Foreign Legion.

Mr Goff said his body had been transferred to a French hospital in Bouake, run by Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders), but it had no pathologist to perform an autopsy.

The rebels had agreed for a pathologist to travel to the French hospital, or for the body to be transferred to morgue facilities in the government-held capital city of Abidjan, in the south.

However, conditions in Bouake meant the body would have to be buried or refrigerated within 48 hours.

As well as the United Nations, New Zealand was working with the South African government, the British in Ivory Coast, and Canada which also had representation there.

The Red Cross had visited Mr Sands on March 14 and March 31 in Bouake, but attempts to visit him in Korhogo were denied.

- NZPA