KEY POINTS:
Four men who took part in a riot at Wellington's Rimutaka Prison last year have been sentenced to further prison terms.
Danny-Joseph Ryder, Navarre Harbour, Ricki McQueen-Ferguson and Corey Douglas, all 18, had all pleaded guilty to damage of property and rioting during the May 26 incident.
Ryder also admitted separate charges of burglary and fraudulently using a document on November 24, while on bail for the prison charges.
Today, Crown prosecutor Ian Murray said offending while in the prison precincts was recognised by the courts as a serious charge, requiring cumulative prison sentencing.
The men, along with six others, had caused $221,209 worth of damage to the prison's youth unit during the day-long riot, when they smashed windows, air-conditioning ventilation units, and furniture.
They climbed onto the roof of the unit and hurled pool cues and bits of furniture at prison staff trying to negotiate with them.
Defence counsel Phyllis Strachan emphasised the youth of the offenders, and said prison management was lacking on the day.
Prison staff were slow to control the situation, and the offenders were celebrating what they saw as a victory over the system.
Judge Peter Butler said it was not his place to comment on prison management, but said the four offenders all had a choice on that day.
"All of you made the wrong choice," he said.
He said all the men would serve sentences of imprisonment, on top of whatever time they were already serving.
Harbour, McQueen-Ferguson and Douglas were all sentenced to 22 months in prison on the intentional damage charge, and six months for rioting, to be served concurrently.
Ryder, who played a smaller part in the day's offending, was sentenced to 13 months for intentional damage; three months for rioting, 13 months for burglary and three months for fraudulent use of a document, to be served concurrently.
Two other men who have pleaded guilty to their parts in the riot, Falcon Samuels and Teariki Malloy, will be sentenced this afternoon.
- NZPA
