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The family of North Shore teenager Liam Ashley have been given a verbal apology by the Corrections Department over the 17-year-old's death in the back of a prison van.
The Ashleys were presented with the long-delayed report into Liam's death yesterday when they met representatives from the Corrections Department.
They were briefed on the contents of the 80-page report by Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews during the hour-long meeting.
Ian Ashley, Liam's father, said the meeting was "very positive in respect to the family and what's been going on for the last 3 months".
"I'm pleased that the report is truthful and honest. It closes the most important chapter, the last piece of puzzle on what actually happened the day my son died."
Liam was bashed and strangled to death in the back of a Chubb prison van on August 24. He had been placed in a compartment with a violent and hardened criminal - despite explicit regulations meant to keep adults and youths apart.
George Charlie Baker, 25, will be sentenced this month after pleading guilty last week in the High Court at Auckland to charges of murder, aggravated robbery and wounding with intent.
The apology from Corrections is not contained in the report, and Mr Ashley said he could not comment on whether a verbal apology was enough.
He was also unsure that there would be a policy change.
The Corrections Department has said it will not make any comment until the report is made publicly available on Monday.
