Prison guard suspended over alleged relationship with killer

A Waikato prison officer accused of having an inappropriate relationship with convicted murderer Carlos Namana has been suspended.

It was revealed last month that an investigation was under way into the Waikeria Prison staff member's actions.

She was placed on "special leave" on May 23 and given 48 hours to provide written submissions on why she should not be suspended.

That day Waikeria Prison management confirmed an employment investigation had begun.

Acting regional manager Gavin Dalziel said information had been received alleging an inappropriate relationship at the prison.

Namana is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Mangakino police constable Murray Stretch.

Prison sources were reported as saying that after the woman was moved out of the prison's Puriri unit -- where Namana is held -- he slashed himself in an effort to be transferred closer to her.

He was treated at Waikato Hospital for a deep cut to one of his arms and was then moved to Waikeria's high security wing, where the woman was working.

On May 20 the guard said there was nothing in the allegations and denied reports she had resigned.

"I'm a married woman with kids, the only relationship I've had with Namana is based on trust and respect," she said.

"He's ready to address some issues and I'm there to help him."

That help included "talking to prison chaplains, counselling and advising on courses".

The nature of the relationship between the two remains unclear.

However, prison sources said Namana had access to the woman's unlisted home phone number and alleged she had taken cellphones into the prison for him.

Another source alleged the woman made contact with Namana's family in Mangakino and he had been able to call her using call diversion on a relative's phone.

If the allegations of bringing the cellphones into the prison were proven they would be a breach of section 44 of the Penal Institutions Act.

Figures released under the Official Information Act show the number of cellphones found in New Zealand's eighteen prisons quadrupled between 2002 and 2004.

In 2002, 78 cellphones were found in prisons. Two years later 344 were found. In the first four months of this year 200 cellphones have been found.

Corrections Association president Bevan Hanlon said the union was urging the Government to change the law to allow blocking of cellphone calls from prisons.

"The phones are an obvious security risk and are used to intimidate people, including staff, and are used to organise crimes," Mr Hanlon said.

On March 22 high-profile criminal Arthur William Taylor escaped from three prison guards when being escorted in downtown Wellington.

Taylor had arranged via cellphone for a gunman to ambush the escorts and help him escape.

In 1998 Taylor used a cellphone to help him escape from the Paremoremo maximum security prison.

- nzpa