A coroner's report on the death of an inmate at a Waikato prison has rejected claims the man died because he was sprayed with pepper spray and hit with a baton.
Nicholas Ward Harris died from asphyxia in his cell at Waikeria Prison in January 2011.
The 36-year-old, who was morbidly obese and had a heart condition, died after prison officers entered his cell to restrain him because they were worried that he might try to harm himself.
Harris had told them he was going to hang himself and had earlier tried to do so.
His family believes that the guards contributed to his death by sitting on him as they tried to restrain him.
They also said he was hit with a baton through the cell door, but the coroner found no evidence to back up either claim.
