Coroner finds inmate waited months for mental health care before death

Friday 24 October 2025 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated Fri 24 Oct 2025, 5:00am

In this story Mary-Anne Borrowdale

A coroner has found that Jessie James-McDonald waited four months for forensic mental health services before dying in his Rimutaka Prison cell in May 2020. Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale stated that Covid-19 lockdowns worsened access to already overstretched mental health services.

How they headlined it

5am

1. The PostFri 24 Oct 2025, 5:00am

   Rimutaka inmate waited months for mental health help before death (opens in new tab)

2. RNZFri 24 Oct 2025, 5:00am

   Prisoner waited four months for mental health help before suicide - coroner (opens in new tab)