Prisoners praised for efforts to save dying inmateâs life A man who died in an quad bike crash last year could never have been revived despite the âvaliant and courageous effortsâ of two other inmates.
Crime by Jason Walls
Premium Content
Subscriber only A MAN who died in an quad bike crash at Holtze Prison last year could never have been revived despite the valiant and courageous efforts of two other inmates who tried to save his life, a court has heard. Territory Coroner Greg Cavanagh this week held an inquest into the death of Benny Watts, who made the front page of the NT News in 2008 after foiling a plot to blow up a servo.
Print text only
Cancel
Fellow prisoners have told an inquest of the moments they tried to save a man who died in an off-road buggy incident while working at the Darwin prison.
Key points:
The inquest heard he was not wearing a helmet or seat belt
Mr Watts was due to begin work in the community three days later
Benjamin Watts, 31, died when the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) he was driving at the horticultural section of the Darwin prison crashed and landed on top of him.
A coronial inquest into his death heard Mr Watts was skilful , reliable and absolutely excellent at his work in the horticultural section of the prison, outside of the main gates.
Offbeat by Jason Walls
Premium Content
Subscriber only A man who went from villain to hero after stealing a marmoset and saltwater crocodile before thwarting a plot to blow up a service station was not wearing a helmet or seatbelt when he was killed in an ATV crash at Holtze Prison last year, a court has heard. Deputy Coroner Kelvin Currie told an inquest into Benny Watts death the 31-year-old former construction worker was serving time for drug and weapons offences and working as a foreman in the prison s horticulture section when he crashed the vehicle on May 8. Mr Currie said Watts had sped up to get ahead of another ATV before slamming into a mound of dirt and was thrown from the vehicle.
Coroner probes death of hero monkey thief in prison crash cqnews.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cqnews.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.