Vic: Hoddle St killer praised in jail death case
By Nick Lenaghan
MELBOURNE, April 9 AAP - Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight was today lauded as "humaneand courageous" in his efforts to revive a suicidal inmate.
The unexpected praise came during an inquest into the death of Dean Williamson whowas serving a life term for smothering his five-year-old son to death.
Knight was the first into the Barwon Prison cell where Williamson was hanging withhis hands tied on November 17, 2000, his son's birthday.
Via video from the same prison today, Knight said he tried to revive Williamson usingskills gained in army training and alerted prison staff they had a "swinger".
Williamson, 31, died two days later in hospital when his life support was turned off.
Knight and two other prisoners today applied to be heard as "interested parties", notjust witnesses, in case they were criticised for their roles in the death.
Victoria's Coroner Frank Hender refused, noting adverse findings against the threewere not likely.
The lawyer for Barwon Prison, Robert Shepherd, agreed saying he would not suggest Knight"did anything other than act in a skilful, courageous and humane manner" during the incident.
Knight said he formed a friendship with Williamson who "implied or alluded" suicideon several occasions.
"I came to the view even if he was not an acute risk he was definitely a chronic riskand was serious about his intention to one day take his own life," Knight said.
But the convicted killer did not pass on his concerns to prison staff, fearing it wouldland Williamson in an observation cell.
"Most prisoners view observation cells with disdain and a certain amount of fear," he said.
Solitary confinement in such cells was seen as a punishment and led to a loss of privileges,he said.
For that reason inmates were reluctant to report either their own suicidal thoughtsor other prisoners at risk.
Instead, Knight tried to "alleviate the distress" and interest Williamson in appealinghis life sentence, hoping his suicidal thoughts would diminish over time.
Knight also criticised a lack of suicide prevention programs at the prison.
He recommended to Mr Hender less harsh observation cells combined with a system ofprison listeners who counselled fellow inmates.
The Hoddle Street killer finished his evidence praising prison officers who were involvedin the incident.
"They worked as hard as anyone could be expected to work to save Dean's life," he said.
Knight is serving a life sentence since his conviction for shooting dead seven peopleand wounding 19 others in Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill, in 1987.
The inquest continues.
AAP nl/dk/ph/de
KEYWORD: WILLIAMSON NIGHTLEAD
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