Inquest into the Death of Adam Timothy Garner

18y · Male·Ligature Compression of Neck (Hanging)

Adam Timothy Garner, aged 18½, died by hanging in his prison cell at Canning Vale Prison Complex on 6 January 2000, approximately 24 hours after admission. He was on remand for a serious violent offence and was experiencing multiple stressors: first-time entry to adult prison, drug withdrawal, concerns about sentence length, recent Hepatitis C diagnosis, and apparent lack of external support. Although he had a documented history of contemplating suicide during stress and ADHD diagnosis, he misled reception staff by denying past suicidal ideation. Prison medical staff assessed him as low risk based on his presentation and lack of access to his juvenile detention records, which would have revealed his history. The coroner found he acted impulsively while on medication that made him drowsy, likely viewing suicide as one of his coping options. The coroner concluded that even with hindsight, care provided was appropriate to his presentation, but highlighted the need for early involvement of mental health professionals with young first-time adult prisoners and access to juvenile records during reception.