Murder of Liam Ashley

Liam Ashley was a 17-year-old boy from North Shore City, Auckland who was murdered on 24 August 2006, by George Charlie Baker, a prisoner from North Shore, Auckland. The crime occurred in a New Zealand prison van and led to criticism of the methods of transporting prisoners in New Zealand.

Ian and Lorraine Ashley, Liam's parents, pressed criminal charges against their son after he used his mother's car without permission. The Ashleys denied bail so that their son would be sent to prison. They wished to correct the boy's behaviour, and prevent additional "minor misdemeanours." Liam had previously experienced "minor trouble" with New Zealand law, and his parents believed that the prison system would be the safest place for him.

The prison authorities placed Ashley in one of four compartments of a prison van operated by Chubb Security, a company operating under contract with New Zealand officials. The van was scheduled to transport the prisoners from North Shore District Court to Auckland Central Remand Prison at Mt Eden. Ashley shared the compartment with two other men, one of whom, George Baker, was classified as a dangerous criminal. Baker attacked Ashley, strangling and stomping on the boy. The victim sustained severe brain injuries. The following day, August 25, at 10:30, his family chose to remove Ashley from life support; Liam Ashley died at 10:45.

Baker said that he attacked Ashley because he believed the boy was a "nark." He freely admitted to killing Ashley and received a minimum 18 year life sentence.Damien O'Connor, the Minister of Corrections, described the fatal injury as "senseless" and "preventable."

Chubb, the security company that operated the van, faced criticism in the aftermath of the attack. In June 2007 the company announced that it no longer wished to transport prisoners as contracted with New Zealand authorities.

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Wikipedia