Sounds of a struggle in shower block

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A PRISONER was sitting outside his cell painting a pottery cup when he heard “sounds of a struggle” coming from the shower block just a few metres away.

But he said he didn't look up when he saw three prisoners leave the shower after the commotion ended for fear someone saw him paying attention.

It wasn't long before Robert Buckley was found dead in that shower area, hanging by a towel.

The Department of Public Prosecution believe Mark Dempsey Knight, Wayne Thomas Robertson and Wesley Robert Williams murdered Buckley on June 16, 1999 at the old Etna Creek Prison.

Yesterday a former prisoner gave evidence during week three of a murder trial in the Rockhampton Supreme Court.

The man said he first saw Robertson, known as “Gunny”, and Williams, known as “Wezo”, walk into the block some time after Buckley entered.

He said they were in there for about 20 to 30 seconds before Knight, who was called “Knighty” entered.

“I didn't want anyone to see that I was paying attention or had heard something. So I kept my head down and kept painting the cup,” the witness said.

Crown prosecutor Richard Pointing asked the witness to describe the sounds he heard coming from the block.

“It was like the sounds of a struggle and someone getting punched… someone trying to yell out to be left alone…just sounds of a struggle,” the witness replied.

The prisoner said after things quietened down he heard the water running and all three exited in single file.

“Knight had a towel rolled up holding it with both hands. It was wrapped up like a sausage draped over his neck,” he said.

The prisoner said he had a brief conversation with Buckley about 11.30am before he went for a shower and said he “looked okay”.

He said he was not injured nor did he have blood on his face.

He also told the court that around lunch time the prison officer of the area, block 10, would also take lunch for about 20 minutes and the officer from block 9 would patrol three blocks for that time.

He said on the day in question the officer had gone to lunch.

The trial is expected to continue for about another two weeks.