OFFENDER DIES OF OVERDOSE ON HOME DETENTION

The Corrections Department has confirmed that an offender on home detention
died of a drug overdose this year.

The confirmation came after NZ First MP Ron Mark tabled an anonymous letter
in Parliament alleging that a man put on home detention after serving seven
years of a prison term for manslaughter and assault on a prison warden died
after overdosing on "P" - pure methamphetamine.

The letter alleged the man and his girlfriend had been baking P in his flat
and had been visited "all hours of the day and night" by ex-gang and prison
associates.

Probation and Offender Services general manager Katrina Casey confirmed
yesterday there had been one case this year of an offender dying on home
detention of a suspected overdose.

However, the department was unable to say whether the case it knew of was
the case referred to in the letter. "If this is the case referred to, at no
time did the offender's probation officer or psychologist see any evidence
of, or receive allegations about, drug use or drug manufacture at the
property," Ms Casey said.

"After the death, the probation officer was told that in the week prior to
the death there had been a number of visits from people who may have been
involved with drugs."

Mr Mark asked Justice Minister Phil Goff how a person convicted of
manslaughter could "set up a P manufacturing operation, use gang members to
distribute the product, intimidate neighbours, have unlimited visitations
from gang and prison associates at all hours of the day and night, start a
relationship with a known female drug dealer and finally die of a drug
overdose" while on home detention.

Mr Goff said he could not comment on judge's rulings in specific cases.