Inquest into the Death of Mason SHAHZAD

40y · Male·ligature compression of the neck (hanging)

Mason Shahzad, a 40-year-old sentenced prisoner serving 30 years for serious family violence offences, died by ligature hanging in his cell at Acacia Prison on 11 November 2024. He had a history of depression, PTSD, and a prior suicide attempt at arrest in 2021. Throughout his custody, he received regular mental health reviews, psychiatric medication (escitalopram), and management through prison risk protocols. At Acacia, he was housed in a single-occupancy cell consistent with mental health requirements. Before his death, he expressed frustration about delayed transfer of personal property from his previous prison. The coroner found that supervision, mental healthcare, physical healthcare, and emergency response were all adequate, and concluded his suicide was unexpected and unpredictable despite these safeguards. The coroner endorsed internal prison system improvements to property management and communication processes but identified no clinical errors or failures of care.