bloodrayne
07-09-2006, 07:29 AM
Milat On Suicide Watch At Goulburn Jail
Australia - Backpacker murderer Ivan Milat is on suicide watch after his television and sandwich maker were confiscated from his high-security prison cell in southern NSW.
The 61-year-old former road worker, jailed for life in 1996 for murdering seven backpackers, had been given the privileged items because he was no longer deemed a suicide or escape risk.
However, they were taken back and a review ordered of the reward system at the Goulburn "super max" jail after the families of Milat's victims and NSW Premier Morris Iemma expressed outrage at the policy.
Prison officials had to place Milat in an observation cell after he threatened to commit suicide when the items were removed on Wednesday, a Department of Corrective Services (DCS) spokeswoman said.
Milat is the only prisoner to have privilege items suspended while the review, conducted by DCS chief psychologist Anne Young, is underway.
NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham said Milat requested to be placed in an observation cell, known as a "safe cell".
"He said, 'You better put me in a safe cell', which means he was going to attempt to harm himself," Mr Woodham told Southern Cross Broadcasting.
"He threatened suicide yesterday.
"He does threaten suicide from time to time.
"Some of it is to get sympathy, but it's a fine line sometimes between an attempt and a successful suicide."
Milat is under 24-hour surveillance in the safe cell by officers monitoring him on closed-circuit television.
He will be assessed by medical staff every day to determine how long he needs to stay in those conditions.
Mr Woodham said he was not concerned about the suspension of Milat's privilege items, and the prisoner would have to wait until the review was completed to find out whether the items would be returned.
He said when Milat was watching TV, he wasn't bothering the prison officers.
"The people that complain about him having a TV, I'd just like them to give some thought to my staff, they have to go in with these psychopaths and manage them everyday."
Australia - Backpacker murderer Ivan Milat is on suicide watch after his television and sandwich maker were confiscated from his high-security prison cell in southern NSW.
The 61-year-old former road worker, jailed for life in 1996 for murdering seven backpackers, had been given the privileged items because he was no longer deemed a suicide or escape risk.
However, they were taken back and a review ordered of the reward system at the Goulburn "super max" jail after the families of Milat's victims and NSW Premier Morris Iemma expressed outrage at the policy.
Prison officials had to place Milat in an observation cell after he threatened to commit suicide when the items were removed on Wednesday, a Department of Corrective Services (DCS) spokeswoman said.
Milat is the only prisoner to have privilege items suspended while the review, conducted by DCS chief psychologist Anne Young, is underway.
NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham said Milat requested to be placed in an observation cell, known as a "safe cell".
"He said, 'You better put me in a safe cell', which means he was going to attempt to harm himself," Mr Woodham told Southern Cross Broadcasting.
"He threatened suicide yesterday.
"He does threaten suicide from time to time.
"Some of it is to get sympathy, but it's a fine line sometimes between an attempt and a successful suicide."
Milat is under 24-hour surveillance in the safe cell by officers monitoring him on closed-circuit television.
He will be assessed by medical staff every day to determine how long he needs to stay in those conditions.
Mr Woodham said he was not concerned about the suspension of Milat's privilege items, and the prisoner would have to wait until the review was completed to find out whether the items would be returned.
He said when Milat was watching TV, he wasn't bothering the prison officers.
"The people that complain about him having a TV, I'd just like them to give some thought to my staff, they have to go in with these psychopaths and manage them everyday."