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The parents of a teenager murdered in a police van may sue the Corrections Department.
Yesterday a Corrections report into Liam Ashley's violent death in the van on August 24, detailed a series of miscommunications, errors and misunderstandings that culminated in the teenager's murder.
The report led to a call for Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor's head. However Mr O'Connor said he had had no intention of quitting and would fix the problems.
Ian Ashley, father of the dead 17-year-old, said the family was considering suing the department for putting his son in the same compartment of the prison van as his killer George Baker.
"They knew he (Baker) was a bloody time bomb," he told The Dominion Post.
"The unfortunate thing is that it happened to my son, but it could have been anybody's son."
The family was talking to lawyers about a possible civil action against the Corrections Department and prison van operator Chubb.
Mr O'Connor has promised to implement all the reports recommendations and more.
But the Howard League for penal reform does not think Corrections is capable of change.
- NZPA
