Hostage drama ends, lawyer blames 'episodes'

George Baker. Photo / Dean Purcell

Convicted murderer George Baker has released a fellow prisoner who he took hostage yesterday and has given himself up peacefully, the Corrections Department said today.

The drama at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo unfolded when Baker, who has a history of mental health problems, took the inmate hostage at 3pm.

The hostage, believed to be an elderly sex offender, was freed about 1.45am today after Baker gave himself up.

Baker's lawyer Tony Bouchier said today the prisoner had "well-documented mental health issues" and often had "episodes" where he stopped taking his medication, resulting in behaviour like yesterday's.

"A lot of the time, George Baker's a model prisoner, just every now and then he goes off the rails and, as I say, I think it's that he goes off his medication and that's when the problems start," he told Radio New Zealand.

Baker, 27, killed 17-year-old Liam Ashley in the back of a Chubb prison security van taking them to Auckland's Mt Eden Remand Centre three years ago.

Mr Bouchier said prison authorities were constantly dealing with incidents involving Baker which weren't made public. They included assaulting a prison guard.

Corrections northern regional manager Warren Cummins said the outcome of the hostage situation was due to the "professionalism" of Corrections staff.

"We regularly train for hostage situations and the conclusion of this incident without injury shows that our training has paid off.

"Police responded quickly to our call for assistance and provided invaluable support and advice in the management of this incident."

Mr Cumming said it was unclear what led to the incident.

It would not be known until Corrections had an opportunity to talk to those involved.

"The prison is now safely locked down and the department and police will now be undertaking a full operational debrief."

- NZPA