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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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Police are investigating
an assault on double murderer Gresham Marsh after he was allegedly assaulted
by another inmate at Rangipo Prison. The Herald revealed
this week that Marsh was offered more than $20,000 from the Salvation Army
for abuse he allegedly suffered as a child, and he had written a letter from
prison threatening to sue his family and victim support lobby group Sensible
Sentencing. Marsh is serving a life
sentence with accomplice Leith Ray for the 1994 murders of elderly Waikato
couple John and Josie Harrisson. Marsh and Ray are due
before the parole board in September. Constable Guy Callahan
of Turangi said Marsh had laid an assault complaint with police. The alleged
assault happened on Friday night after an argument broke out between Marsh
and another inmate during a bingo game. Mr Callahan said Marsh
suffered a broken ankle and bruising, and it was likely one inmate would face
some form of assault charge. He said police had not
established the reason for the fight but Herald sources said other inmates
were annoyed that Marsh had been speaking out about alleged abuse, and the
threatening letter. The payout he received
from the Salvation Army for abuse he allegedly suffered as a 10-year-old
while in Hodderville Boys Home in Putaruru has also angered Sensible
Sentencing spokesman Garth McVicar. Mr McVicar said any
money Marsh received should have repaid legal aid. Part of the $21,125
compensation offered was to go towards Marsh’s counselling, removing his
tattoos, and changing his name by deed poll. Mr McVicar said Marsh
should not be allowed to change his name. He said the Salvation
Army had received huge amounts of public support over the years, including
donations from Sensible Sentencing, but the trust would not part with another
dollar following the revelation. Meanwhile, Hamilton
police crime services manager, Inspector Pete Devoy, said he had been
forwarded a file on Marsh detailing a number of allegations of historic abuse
Marsh claims he was subjected to. Mr Devoy said police
would review the information and then make a decision on whether the abuse
claims would be investigated. |
