Jailer son spared role

The son of murder victim Mary Hobson is an Auckland prison guard but has not been required to watch over her killer.

Mary's widower, Tai Hobson, said his son Joe did not work during the seven-week murder trial of William Bell that ended with his conviction for three murders at the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA.

Mr Hobson said his son had not been required to guard Bell.

Mary Hobson was cleaning the RSA when Bell arrived to rob it on December 8 last year. She died of head injuries.

Bell has been held at Paremoremo prison and his co-accused, getaway driver Darnell Tupe, at Mt Eden remand prison. Mr Hobson would not say where his son worked, or if he had been stood down or taken voluntary leave during the trial.

The Corrections Department said managers could grant guards leave on compassionate grounds.