A prisoner who attacked a guard in a bid to get a transfer to a North Island jail got his wish - but it will come at a cost.
Justin Soul Su’a (22) appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to injuring by unlawful act, which carries a maximum jail term of three years.
On the afternoon of November 8, he was released from his cell at Otago Corrections Facility’s high-security wing.
"Within a minute of being unlocked, he walked purposefully up to the victim [a Corrections officer] who was talking to a colleague at the time," a police summary stated.
Su’a called out to the man then threw a punch which connected with the man’s chin and caused his head to "snap" backwards.
"The victim was taken completely by surprise and did not have the opportunity to protect himself. He fell backwards and landed hard on the vinyl floor," court documents said.
Su’a took up a fighting stance as he backed away.
The victim slowly got to his feet as other prison guards intervened.
While being escorted away, Su’a explained he deliberately targeted the officer because he wanted to be moved to a North Island prison to be close to his family who were moving overseas.
And it worked.
"As a result of this assault, the prisoner was segregated and his security classification was elevated from high to maximum security," Corrections chief custodial officer Neil Beales said.
"As a result of this change in classification he was moved to New Zealand’s only specialist maximum security facility, at Auckland Prison."
The transfer took place in December.
Su’a is currently serving a sentence of six years on a charge of injuring with intent to do grievous bodily harm, a brutal attack committed alongside his brother Cesar, it was reported in September 2017.
The Napier District Court heard at sentencing the duo approached a local rugby player from behind and hit him with a piece of wood.
They continued to rain down blows on the victim as he lay on the floor, resulting in a fractured skull and brain bleeds.
Mr Beales did not directly address whether Su’a’s transfer sent the message to other inmates that violence could get them a transfer to another prison if they desired.
"Our staff do an incredible job in some very challenging circumstances to keep New Zealanders safe, and assaults on them are unacceptable," he said.
"Over 75% of the prison population have convictions for violence in their offending histories, and more than 90% have had a lifetime diagnosis of a mental health or substance abuse disorder."
Su’a will be sentenced next month.
