Inquest into the Death of Christopher John HILLSTEAD
Inquest into the Death of Christopher John HILLSTEAD
Delivered on : 3 January 2025
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Coroner Urquhart
Recommendations : N/A
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : On 18 January 2021, Mr Hillstead died at Acacia Prison (Acacia), Wooroloo, from ligature compression of the neck (hanging). He was 59 years old. At the time of his death, Mr Hillstead was a sentenced prisoner in the care of the CEO of the Department of Justice (the Department). As he was a person held in care, his death was subject to a mandatory inquest.
Mr Hillstead had been in prison for over 18 years following a 2006 conviction for wilful murder. He received a sentence of strict security life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years before parole eligibility. This meant that his earliest date for release on parole was 31 August 2028.
Following a suicide attempt by an overdose of medications in 2008, Mr Hillstead committed himself to educational pursuits. By the end of 2020, he was nearing the completion of a thesis with plans to then undertake a PhD. As he was studying, Mr Hillstead was permitted to reside in November Block at Acacia. November Block was a self-care unit that contained pods for prisoners serving life sentences and who had employment or were being educated within prison.
In the latter part of 2020, Mr Hillstead was in disagreement with the Department over several aspects of his studies; most notably, a decision by the Department that upon completing his thesis, Mr Hillstead would be required to complete the Violent Offender Treatment Program (VOTP) before he could undertake a PhD. Mr Hillstead disagreed with this decision, and it caused him considerable stress and anger. On 14 January 2021, Mr Hillstead was advised his participation in the education program would cease in three weeks. This also meant that he would be moved from November Block.
As a result of a threat Mr Hillstead made in a telephone conversation with a friend on 15 January 2021, Acacia custodial staff decided he would be placed in the Detention Unit. This was to take place on 8 January 2021. When Mr Hillstead became aware of this plan he barricaded himself inside his pod at November Block, and threw food items at custodial staff. He refused to come out and officers from the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) were called to extract him. However, when CERT officers breached the pod they found Mr Hillstead hanging from the door of a cell by a ligature made from a prison bed sheet. He was unresponsive. Despite prompt resuscitation efforts by CERT officers and prison medical staff, Mr Hillstead could not be revived.
The Coroner was satisfied the Department’s treatment of Mr Hillstead with respect to his educational pursuits was appropriate, including the decision that he was to complete the VOTP before he could undertake a PhD.
Apart from one missed opportunity regarding the plan to move Mr Hillstead to the Detention Unit, the Coroner was also satisfied that the manner in which Acacia’s custodial staff dealt with Mr Hillstead on the day of his death was appropriate.
Catch Words : Death in Custody : Suicide : Violent Offender Treatment Program
Last updated: 21 February 2025