Jailer's passing felt half world away

Joshua Palmer says he had a premonition of his twin brother's death. Photo / Christine Cornege

Half a world away from Waikato's Spring Hill Prison, in the town of Kingsville, Texas, a 13-year-old boy is mourning the father he never knew.

Taylor Palmer is the first son of corrections officer Jason Palmer, who died in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital on May 16 after being punched by an inmate.

The former US Marine is survived by his Kiwi wife Tracy and their two children Riley and Abby.

Mr Palmer's son Taylor lives with the prison guard's former partner, Susan Cool, in Kingsville, in the United States. Taylor's stepfather, Lee Cool, contacted the Herald about the 13-year-old.

"Taylor had never met his dad, but was supposed to meet him in the near future. He is grieving for the father he will never meet."

Yesterday, hundreds of people, including prison officers from around the country and Australia, gathered at the Pukekohe Town Hall to farewell Mr Palmer.

His coffin was draped with American and New Zealand flags, and was carried into the hall by former work colleagues and his brothers George, Justin and Joshua, who travelled to New Zealand from the United States on Friday with their mother Ada.

His twin brother, Joshua Palmer said he had had a premonition of his brother's death a couple of weeks ago.

"And sadly ... it came true," he said. His biggest regret remained that he had not visited his brother earlier.

"He wanted me to visit him, but me being stubborn and selfish, I had not. ... I am now left to ponder what could have been and what should have been with my beautiful brother."

Earlier, his older brother George told the audience how he remembered his baby brother Jason coming home from hospital with their mother shortly after he was born in 1977.

He said despite him one time using Joshua's licence to fool local police when he was pulled over while suspended from driving, Jason was a good father to his children and husband to Tracy.

He had a love of theatre and was a model son, who would call his mother regularly.

"You set an example of how to live our lives," said George Palmer.

"You are an incredible son and a wonderful husband ... Mom hears from you more than me and I live an hour away from her."

Prison manager Gavin Dalziel said Mr Palmer, who began work at the Waikato prison last December, was highly professional and meticulous in his appearance and took a firm but fair approach with the inmates.

He said he had begun mapping out a long career with the prison service.

Mr Palmer's body was taken from the hall as a huge haka was performed by his former colleagues. His family are to take his body back to the United States today.

The Labour Department last week began an investigation into the death, which will run alongside police and Corrections Department inquiries.

A 21-year-old man, whose identity has been suppressed, has been charged with assault.

He is to reappear in the Hamilton District Court on June 15 where he is likely to face further charges.