A man arrested and charged with abducting a young girl in Christchurch last weekend has been found dead in prison.
The man was on remand after appearing in the Christchurch District Court on Monday accused of abducting the 9-year-old.
Court documents said the man, who was in his 60s, met the girl on Saturday, then unlawfully took her away with the intent to have sexual connection with her.
The man also faced cannabis-related charges and was due back in court next month.
Corrections said inmates and staff are being provided with support, and all deaths in prison are subject to an internal incident review, an investigation by the independent Corrections Inspectorate and are referred to the coroner.
Corrections told The Press the man was remanded in a prison health unit and was not in a double-bunked cell.
He died about 3.45am on Thursday.
Corrections’ officers and health staff gave him first aid and called an ambulance, but he was not able to be revived.
Prison acting general manager Claire Walls said an independent Corrections Inspectorate investigation was under way into the death.
– Allied Media