RSA Killer Takes Corrections To Court For Losing His Kitchen Job

RSA triple killer William Bell is taking Corrections to court on allegations that he planned to kidnap a prison staff member and lost his job in the kitchen as a result.

Bell became one of New Zealand’s most notorious killers when he murdered three people and wounded a fourth at Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA in December 2001.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum period of 33 years without parole, initially. On appeal, the period without parole was reduced to 30 years.

Bell had recently been working towards an NCEA qualification at Auckland Prison’s new kitchen facility when he was transferred from the post, Stuff reported.

A former prisoner named Crimestoppers was understood to be alleging that Bell had planned to take a hostage, allegations that Bell denies.

Corrections confirmed that Bell was transferred to a different type of employment within the prison in April 2019.

In response to the allegations, a Corrections spokesman said there was no threat to the overall security of the prison and that no threat to public safety was made at any time.

“As you will appreciate, this matter is currently before the court, and to avoid jeopardizing these proceedings or impairing their outcome, we have limited ability to provide more specific information.”

Bell was classified as a low-medium security prisoner, but Corrections raised that rating to the maximum before lowering it again.

Bell filed an application in Auckland High Court for a judicial review of the grade increase before he retired, but it was understood that Bell was pursuing legal action as Corrections had failed to reinstate his kitchen job.

Bell’s mother, Georgina Tahana, told Stuff that Bell was extremely disappointed to lose his job in the kitchen.

“I was trying and I was motivated. I was so proud. I was really, really enjoying what I was doing. He was like, ‘What are you going to have lunch, what’s for dinner, is this what you can do?’ I know what it is like when you want to do something and you want to do it well. I do not know why [Corrections] did this, “he said.

Bell will be eligible for parole in December 2031, at the age of 54.

He beat up Mary Hobson, 44, Wayne Johnson, 56, and William Absolum, 63, during an RSA robbery.

He also seriously injured Susan Couch, who worked part time doing the club accounts.

He was on probation at the time of the murders and already had 102 convictions.

Four months before the murders, Bell had worked as a bartender in the club rooms as part of a work experience program.