KEY POINTS:
Convicted triple killer William Bell today remained unable to speak with police about a prison attack which left him with at least one stab wound to his eye socket.
"We may not get to speak to him for days due to his condition. He's just not well enough," said Inspector Gary Davey of the North Shore Police.
Bell has been recovering at Auckland Hospital under tight security after the Corrections Department said it was investigating the possibility Bell staged the attack as part of a prison escape.
Corrections spokesman Bryan McMurray said Bell had been monitored for months leading up to the attack after prison staff became aware of the possibility he was planning a break-out.
Mr Davey said Bell's stay at the hospital had so far been uneventful.
The attack, which took place in a recreation room at Auckland Prison's Paremoremo maximum-security facility, was captured on CCTV and the footage has been turned over to police.
Mr Davey said police were unable to comment on its contents "for fear of prejudicing any trial".
Mr McMurray said the video gave police and Corrections "valuable information to work with, including confirmation that prisoner Bell was assaulted by one other prisoner."
He last night told TV One's Close-Up the attacker had entered the room "to do the cleaning".
"The assault lasted about 21 seconds and that is the time the first officer arrived and intervened and pulled the two prisoners apart. That officer actually prevented the assault being worse or continuing," he said.
Two "makeshift" weapons were later recovered.
"Prisoners have been known to make weapons out of a range of items including pencils, toothbrushes and bedding," Mr McMurray said.
Mr Davey said the inmate will next week appear in North Shore District Court to face "serious charges".
Bell has emerged as an unpopular figure at the prison with a number of inmates complaining that he stole from them and that he boasted about receiving special treatment.
His release from hospital, which is expected in a few days, will be kept under wraps.
"Due to operational reasons we are not commenting on when he will be released other than to let you know when he is safe and secure back in Paremoremo," Mr Davey said.
Bell is serving New Zealand's longest prison sentence with a non-parole period of 30 years for killing three people at the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA in 2001.
- NZPA
