‘Prison politics’ behind Albany maximum security jail bashing

“Prison politics” drove an Albany maximum security prisoner to carry out a horrific unprovoked attack, leaving his victim with facial fractures that a District Court judge likened to injuries consistent with a car crash. The injuries caused to the victim by fellow inmate Bolton Ivan Vladimirovich Mamkin were so severe that authorities elected to charge the 23-year-old with an offence carrying a maximum prison term twice as long as grievous bodily harm. State Prosecutor Paul Dixon told the District Court last Wednesday that Mamkin had punched his victim four times to the head while the pair hugged in an Albany Regional Prison courtyard about 2pm on November 20. He was then kicked repeatedly in the head when he fell to ground. Mamkin carried out the assault because of a planned attack — linked to the Brothers for Life gang — on him, according to Mamkin’s defence counsel Elizabeth Hamilton. “As a result of the assault, (the victim) suffered a bilateral fracture of the jaw and an orbital fracture to his right eye socket,” Mr Dixon said. “He required surgery as a result of his injuries. “Prison officers later intercepted two letters written by the offender in which he makes full admissions to assaulting Brown.” District Court Judge Bruce Goetze said it would normally take something like a “motor vehicle crash” for someone to suffer the injuries inflicted in the attack. “We’ve been provided with a very solid piece of bone there in that position for obvious reasons, to protect our heads, and so the force you’ve used here is quite serious,” Judge Goetze told Mamkin. Mamkin had his prison sentence extended by three-and-a-half years. The court was told by Ms Hamilton Mamkin declined parole in July and was due to be released in 2022 before having his term extended. Ms Hamilton told the court Mamkin did not understand why the attack had ended up in court, saying it was part of the “prison experience”. “He says, ‘It’s prison politics. Why did the court have to get involved? This is how we deal with things in prison’,” Ms Hamilton said. It is anticipated that Mamkin — a New Zealand national — will be deported on his release from prison.