A convicted Tasmanian murderer has lodged a discrimination complaint against Risdon Prison, claiming he was victimised.
Eggs and Bacon Bay man Stuart Barry Russell was sentenced to 22 years in jail for murdering his landlord Brett Williams in 2011.
Russell stabbed Williams multiple times and then attempted to set his body on fire.
In a complaint lodged with Equal Opportunity Tasmania, Russell raised concerns over the alleged conduct of correctional officers and prisoners.
He alleges that he was placed in a locked yard where fellow inmates had access to boiling water, urine and a marmalade/honey slurry – which they threw at him.
Russell claimed that he was abused, attacked and threatened for being “crippled” over a 20 month period from 5 May 2019 to January 2021.
A summary of the complaint by Russel alleges inmates ‘constantly asked’ to see his non-existent toes and mentioned claims that he was left without a shower chair and other medical aids.
Representing himself without a lawyer, Russell’s complaint was partially accepted by the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, covering the period between January 2020 and January 2021, due to a 12-month time limit for such complaints.
Tribunal deputy president Alison Clues said the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner had failed to make a determination on the reasonability of accepting part of the complaint, leading to questions about procedural fairness to the Tasmanian Prison Service.
Russell’s complaint will be addressed in a future tribunal hearing.
