Man hangs himself in cell

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 3

Man hangs himself in cell

PA Auckland a man arrested on a minor theft charge hanged himself in the Otahuhu police station cells on Wednesday. He was Allan Thomas Gillespie, aged 23, a seaman, of Papatoetoe. Gillespie was found hanging from the shoelaces of his boots in his cell about 10.45 p.m. He had been arrested earlier in the evening and charged with stealing knives and a meat cleaver from a South Auckland service station.

The southern division police deputy commander, Superintendent Pat Gaines, said yesterday that Gillespie had given no indication he would hang himself. It

would be investigated for the inquest, he said. Gillespie had been violent and abusive rather than quiet and placid, Mr Gaines said.

The police had been only a few metres from the cell at the time of the hanging, but could not get to Gillespie in time. Attempts by station and ambulance staff to resuscitate him failed. Police did not know how long he had been hanging. He was found virtually crouching with his back to the cell door and his laces tied to the grille.

Mr Gaines said staff were busy booking two prisoners at the time and interviewing another two. They were in the cell at the first sound of trouble.