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An hour earlier than a closely tattooed bikie boss was discovered lifeless in his cell, he had been transferred out of a specialist psychological well being unit into one other part of the jail.
A Victorian coroner is investigating why Finks boss Brent Reker was moved and whether or not that contributed to him taking his personal life in December 2019.
Reker’s mom was current throughout a short listening to on the Coroners Courtroom in Melbourne on Thursday, when particulars of his loss of life had been aired for the primary time.
The 35-year-old was on remand for critical, violent drug and weapon offenses when he died at Ravenhall jail on December 12.
Counsel aiding the coroner Main Senior Constable Fiona Nation stated Reker had been moved from Port Phillip Jail to a specialist psychological well being unit at Ravenhall in November 2019, after earlier makes an attempt to take his personal life.
The unit gives prisoners who’ve advanced psychological well being points with specialised care, remedy and packages.
Nevertheless, about three weeks later jail workers grew to become involved Reker was wielding affect over different prisoners in that unit, following feedback he made about self-harm at conferences.
“A case convention between workers has held, after a number of emails between Forensicare and Ravenhall workers it was agreed that Brent was prone to influencing the prisoner group and self-harm could happen,” Sen Const Nation stated.
“The choice was subsequently made to take away Brent.”
A psychiatrist was supposed to talk to Reker earlier than he was transferred however this didn’t occur because the clinician had already left the unit.
About 2.30pm on December 12, officers started transferring Reker out of the unit.
Reker was argumentative and animated when informed in regards to the transfer, Sen Const Nation stated.
A psychiatrist was despatched to Reker’s new cell about 3.30pm, however he didn’t reply and the cell door was blocked by a mattress.
Corrections workers raised a “code black” medical emergency and Reker was discovered mendacity unconscious on the ground of the bathe in his cell at 3.38pm.
Coroner Paul Lawrie is investigating the occasions main as much as Reker’s transfer out of the specialist unit, his psychological well being historical past and threat evaluation of him by workers.
He may also look at the place Corrections Victoria is at in implementing suggestions from a 2021 justice system evaluate.
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-AAP
