Inmates quizzed over prisoner's death

Police were today interviewing the eight prisoners who were in a Hawke's Bay Regional Prison wing when an inmate was killed.

Detective Sergeant Warren Murdoch said the attack on the man left him with wounds to the upper part of his body.

He said there were eight inmates in the unit, which is in the main part of the prison, at the time of the attack.

Mr Murdoch wouldn't confirm reports the man had been stabbed, but said that would be known later today.

"Once we have the post mortem we'll be in a position to comment on what weapon has been used," Mr Murdoch said.

It is understood that the dead man, whose identity has not been released, was a senior member of the Black Power gang.

The Dominion Post today reported that convicted murderer Dartelle Alder was questioned about the killing.

When asked if Alder was one of the men present in the wing at the time of the attack, Mr Murdoch refused to comment.

Alder, 28, is serving a life sentence, with a non-parole period of 17 years for murder, kidnap and rape of Wellington woman Margaret Baxter in 2001.

Mr Murdoch said today the homicide investigation was still in its early stages and Environmental Science and Research staff were assisting police in the examination of the scene.

This examination was not expected to be completed until later today.

He said more information would be released after a post-mortem examination had been carried out in Auckland this afternoon.

Police were told of the 25-year-old man's death at 10am yesterday.

Mr Murdoch said police had been asked by his family not to release the dead man's name.

- NZPA