The Commissioner of NT Correctional Services, Mark Payne, has confirmed the death of a prisoner at the Darwin Correctional Centre.

The 81 year old prisoner was found to be deceased in his cell just after half past seven this morning.

He was serving a life sentence for murder at the time of his death.

As the matter is a Death in Custody, an investigation will be conducted by NT Police on behalf of the Coroner to determine the circumstances and cause of death and no further comment will be made.

The prisoner’s family has requested his name not be released at this time.

Counselling services have been made available to staff and prisoners at the Darwin Correctional Centre.  

Media contact: David Harris 0400 342 389