Inmate's parents hire lawyers to investigate death

Nick Evans died from pneumonia and MRSA in the Whangarei Hospital July 2015. Photo / Supplied

Lawyers have been hired by the parents of a prison inmate whose death is at the centre of a prison violence scandal with a view to laying a formal complaint with police.

Nick Evans died after injuries, including a ruptured lung, were inflicted during a violent incident in Mt Eden prison.

Glenn and Julie Evans have been in contact with police and instructed criminal barristers Matthew Goodwin and Martin Hislop - who represented Nick on his drugs charges - to act on their behalf and seek answers about their son's death.

The claims of violence at Mt Eden went to a new level this week when Labour's Kelvin Davis claimed the 25-year-old had been dropped from a balcony to a concrete floor inside Mt Eden. Nick Evans - in prison on drug charges - died a month ago after a ruptured lung led to pneumonia and the MRSA superbug meant antibiotics could not be used to fight the illness.

Questions have arisen around the cause of the ruptured lung that led to the illness which led to his death.

Mr Goodwin confirmed he was acting on behalf of the parents but declined to comment on social posts suggesting Mr and Mrs Evans plan to lay a criminal complaint with police.

"We'll be talking through all their concerns and work out what the next step is to take."

The police are already investigating the death on behalf on the Coroner and Detective Inspector Kevin Burke, from the Northland CIB, has been in touch with the family.

The Herald revealed this morning that the grandfather of Nick Evans was John Evans, a 53-year veteran of the National Party who died a few weeks ago. The death of grandfather and grandson followed the loss of John Evans' son David in a car crash in May, taking three generations from the family within a few months.

John Evans' funeral, held on July 10, was attended by former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley and brought tribute from John Key.

The half-century involvement in the party saw John Evans most recently managing the 2011 electoral campaign of current Rodney MP Mark Mitchell. Mr Mitchell, who paid tribute to John Evans in his maiden speech, said he was contacted by the Evans family when Nick Evans was admitted to Whangarei Hospital and had been providing support since. "The family has been dealt a number of tragedies in recent weeks and months and this is a very difficult time for them."

Meanwhile, prison sources have told the Herald Nick Evans was not "dropped". However, it was maintained that he was a victim of the violence inside Mt Eden prison and it was believed the injuries suffered played a part in his death.

Inquiries by the Herald among inmates and with Corrections have confirmed Evans was moved from Mt Eden prison on May 29 with a prisoner who had two broken legs, which were believed to have been caused by being dropped from a landing inside the prison in February.

The claims of "dropping" were yesterday dismissed by Corrections with the release of an inquiry into the February incident. The inquiry found the prisoner's injuries did come from going off a landing - but during his attempt to escape an assault.

A Corrections spokesman said: "He fell as a result of being chased by another offender who then physically assaulted him."

One prisoner aware of the assault Mr Evans suffered said prison rumour appeared to have linked Mr Evans' injury with stories circulating about the prisoner with whom he was transported, who was believed to have been dropped in February.