Prisoner was fixing guards' cars for free

A convicted assassin-style killer was fixing motorcycles and cars owned by prison guards free of charge until the workshop set up behind bars was shut down.

Dennis John Fitchett, 60, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ken Heard, who was shot in the head while sitting in a leather armchair in his home and dumped down a bank in West Auckland in 1996.

Since described as a model prisoner, Fitchett was allowed to set up a mechanic's garage inside the minimum-security unit at Mt Eden Prison in 2004 to restore vintage motorcycles as a hobby, a privilege granted with the full backing of the then prison manager.

Fitchett was even praised by the Parole Board as a leader for promoting training and employment for inmates.

But Weekend Herald inquiries have found the Corrections Department has shut down Fitchett's workshop and started an investigation.

"The new prison manager reviewed the operation of the workshop and decided that the workshop was not operating in accordance with its original purpose. The workshop was closed in late December until further inquiries could be carried out," assistant regional manager Jeanette Burns said.

The review found that four staff members or their family members had work done on vehicles free of charge. The work had been approved.

A second inquiry report confirmed there were "health and safety and operational issues" with the workshop and there were no plans to reopen it.

A prison source said Fitchett, a qualified mechanic and former motorcycle gang member, was fixing cars and motorcycles for Corrections' staff free of charge. As a result, the source said Fitchett had "free rein" in prison.

According to the Corrections code of conduct, staff are prohibited from forming a financial or business relationship with an offender, "or using an offender for personal gain".

Prisoners also had access to gas-cutting tools in the workshop, which the prison source said could have been used in an escape bid.

The Corrections Department refused to comment on what, if any, action was taken against staff involved with Fitchett.

The Parole Board said "he has been involved in promoting training and employment for prisoners and has had a number of escorted outings allowing him to demonstrate his skills".

One of those "escorted outings" was to the home of a prison staff member to help build a garage.

In a June hearing the Parole Board said Fitchett "remains an enigma and a mystery to us" and refused to grant an early release.