Prisoner found dead at Hakea as calls to address ‘intolerable’ conditions grow

A man has died at Hakea Prison in what authorities have determined are not under suspicious circumstances amid growing concerns that conditions at the facility are at crisis point.

The Department of Justice said the 30-year-old Aboriginal man was found unresponsive just before 4pm on Thursday.

Prisoners have been locked in their cells and will not be allowed visitors. Credit: Fairfax

“Staff including medical officers provided first aid to the prisoner until St John WA paramedics

arrived,” a statement released on Saturday said.

“Preliminary reports indicate that there were no suspicious circumstances.

A report will be prepared for the coroner which is mandatory when there is a death in custody.

The death comes just days after a District Court judge took the unusual step of speaki