Jail staff failed to protect police informer Carl Williams

PRISON chiefs failed to protect crime kingpin Carl Williams even though they knew he could be killed, the Victorian Ombudsman said yesterday. Williams was bashed to death with the stem of an exercise bike seat by fellow Barwon Prison inmate Matthew Charles Johnson on April 19, 2010. Five days before the bashing a prison officer reported an inmate telling him: "Everybody knows (Williams) is co-operating with Victoria Police in exchange for a reduction in his sentence and other benefits." The prison officer's report was not referred to the relevant authorities. In a report tabled in the Victorian parliament yesterday, Ombudsman George Brouwer said Corrections Victoria acting Commissioner Rod Wise and Department of Justice Secretary Penny Armytage were both aware of the threat Johnson posed to Williams. Mr Wise sent Ms Armytage an email on January 6, 2009, saying: "There is little doubt that Johnson is capable of causing Williams harm if he were to find out the true nature of Williams' co-operation with police." Despite the risks, they supported the placement of Johnson with Williams. As a result the department had failed in its statutory duty to ensure Williams' safety, Mr Brouwer said. Current corrections Commissioner Bob Hastings denied his staff were incompetent: "Sometimes things happen but overall staff are very capable. We have made significant progress."