Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says justice has been done with the death of Taffy Hotene, who raped and murdered an Auckland woman just weeks after completing a prison sentence for attacking three women in Wanganui.

Hotene was found dead in Wanganui Prison on Thursday.

He had been serving a life sentence with a non-parole period of 18 years for murdering Auckland journalist Kylie Jones in 2000, and preventive detention for raping her.

He attacked Ms Jones just weeks after being released from serving eight years in jail for attacking three women in Wanganui.

'No tears anywhere' for Hotene

The head of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, Garth McVicar, says that Hotene's death is the best possible outcome and that victims now won't have to endure any parole applications by him.

"There's not going to be any tears anywhere for Taffy Hotene," Mr McVicar says, "I mean, the justice system is failing, but ultimately there's justice at the end of the day, it appears."

The Corrections Department's assistant general manager of operations, Leanne Field, says prison staff provided medical assistance but were unable to revive the prisoner.

While his death is not considered suspicious, she says it will be investigated by the coroner.