Williams death leads to jail security probe

Alex de Vos
Lara’s Barwon Prison is under investigation over the death of gangland killer Carl Williams, authorities have revealed.
Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Rod Wise said the incident was of “concern”.
He vowed to leave “no stone unturned to get to the bottom of this murder and the motive”.
Police alleged the notorious prisoner was attacked from behind on Monday afternoon then dragged about a metre to his cell and dumped inside.
Prison officers did not find the dying Williams for more than 20 minutes when they discovered him bleeding in his top security cell at Barwon Prison’s Acacia Wing.
Security footage revealed that another prisoner struck Williams in the head at least eight times with part of an exercise bike.
The attack took less than 10 seconds.
Barwon Prison’s maximum security unit holds some of Australia’s most dangerous prisoners, including gangland figures and men sentenced over terrorism charges.
Mr Wise said three investigations would be held into Williams’ death.
He said police, the coroner and the Office of Corrective Services would conduct the investigations.
Mr Wise defended the prison’s security system, saying staff regularly supervised prisoners.
But he conceded officers were “limited in what we can do in any prison environment”.
“There is no prison environment that is without risk,” Mr Wise said.
“Crime can occur in a prison, just as it can occur out in the community.”
Mr Wise said utilising staff to supervise every prisoner when they were out of their cells would be unpractical.
Corrections Minister Bob Cameron said Williams was unsupervised at the time of the bashing.
“We are very, very concerned that such a notorious criminal has been murdered and that’s why there are all of those investigations,” Mr Cameron said.
On Tuesday police charged a fellow inmate with one count of murder over the bashing death of Williams.
The man appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court via video link.
He will reappear in court for a committal mention on July 23.