KEY POINTS:
Graeme Burton - left with one leg after being shot by police - attacked a Corrections officer as he was being moved from hospital to prison yesterday.
The 35-year-old, who is accused of murdering Wainuiomata father-of-two Karl Kuchenbecker, was being taken from Wellington Hospital to Rimutaka Prison when he struck.
A Corrections spokesman said Burton was in the back of a transport van when he attacked the officer escorting him.
The assault was not serious and Burton was quickly restrained, the spokesman said.
Burton is facing 23 charges stemming from crimes allegedly committed after breaching parole conditions.
He had been in Wellington Hospital since being wounded on January 6 as he tried to evade police. He was shot in the leg and later had it amputated.
Yesterday's attack, shortly after midday, meant he had to return to Wellington Hospital to be assessed by medical staff as a precaution, before he was finally driven to Rimutaka. The Corrections Department would not say whether Burton was in the secure wing at the jail or whether he was even in the jail at all.
"For security reasons, the safety of the prisoner and the good management of the prison, Corrections will not divulge details about prisoner Burton's location and security arrangements," the department said.
But Bridget White, Corrections assistant general manager of women's and specialist services, said staff closely monitored disabled prisoners such as Burton, and there were cells specifically designed for the needs of disabled prisoners.
"When a disabled offender is received into prison a plan around how their disability will be managed is devised in consultation with the disability support service and in consideration with their security classification and how they will interact with other prisoners."
Referrals can be made for specialist assessment.
A decision had yet to be made on whether Burton will face additional charges as a result of yesterday's incident.
