The Shocking Murder of Liam Ashley: After his Parents Arrested Him, He Was Brutally Murdered While He Was Transported To Prison
On August 24, 2006, Liam Ashley’s life ended in a brutal and preventable murder inside a prison van in Auckland, New Zealand.
This shocking case revealed glaring lapses in their prison transport procedures, leading to nationwide outrage and calls for reform.
Liam, a vulnerable teen with minor offenses, was placed in the same prison van with George Charlie Baker, a violent offender with a dark history.
Tragically, this fatal decision led to Liam Ashley’s death, according to Wikipedia.
The local police department and prison transport system later faced heavy criticism for their roles in this tragedy.
This true crime story isn’t just about a murder—it’s a chilling reminder of how systemic failures can have deadly consequences.
Let's get into the details
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| Liam Ashley |
How Did Liam Ashley End Up in A Prison Van?: Background of The Case
Liam John Ashley was born on May 17, 1989, in North Shore City, Auckland, to Ian and Lorraine Ashley.
The youngest of four children, Liam was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the age of three and began taking medications at five.
As a result of this, Liam had behavioral and learning difficulties during his childhood, which led to multiple school changes.
Despite his struggles, Liam was described by friends as a spirited teenager, nicknamed “Crazy Liam.”
While growing up, he had a history of minor run-ins with the law, including incidents of public drinking and disorderly conduct.
In one unreported incident, Liam and a friend took his father’s car for a joyride, later dumping it in the sea after breaking its windows.
His parents, unaware of his involvement, never pressed charges.
By the time Liam Ashley was a teenager, he already had more problems with the law.
On June 30, 2006, Liam was arrested and charged with willful trespass, daylight burglary of property valued under $500, and possession of a knife in a public place.
He was bailed on July 3, 2006.
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| Liam Ashley |
Later that month, he was arrested again, and he faced additional charges, including unlawful presence in an enclosed area, failure to comply with a driving prohibition, and a second count of willful trespass.
On August 18, 2006, Ashley Liam took his mother’s car without permission, prompting his parents to press charges in hopes of teaching him a lesson.
He was arrested again, and more charges were added: unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a cannabis pipe, and a second burglary charge.
On August 20, 2006, Liam Ashley was assessed using the Prison Youth Vulnerability Scale (PYVS) and scored 17 out of 24 points, classifying him as a “high” vulnerability risk.
Concerned about his behavior and determined to prevent further “minor misdemeanors,” Liam’s parents made the difficult decision to deny him bail.
They believed the prison system would be the safest place for him, hoping it would correct his behavior.
Little did they know that this decision would lead to an unthinkable outcome.
Liam Ashley's parentts
Liam Ashley’s Brutal Murder
On August 24, 2006, 17-year-old Liam Ashley was placed in a prison van for transport from North Shore District Court to Auckland Central Remand Prison.
Despite his age and vulnerability, he was transported alongside adult offenders, a decision that would have fatal consequences.
The van had four compartments, and Liam was placed in one of them alongside two other prisoners.
One of them was 25-year-old George Charlie Baker, a violent offender with a history of serious crimes.
At approximately 5pm, the van departed from the courthouse and made a 30-minute stop at Henderson Police Station around 5:15pm.
Shortly after leaving the station, at roughly 5:50 pm, Baker launched a brutal attack on Liam.
The other inmate in the van, identified as “Prisoner E,” reported that Baker stomped on Liam and strangled him for between 10 and 15 minutes.
Prisoner E later stated that Baker shouted, “F***ing die, f***ing die,” during the attack.
Prisoner E also recounted Baker saying, “This guy is taking ages to die, he’s breathing,” as Liam struggled for his life.
The attack went unnoticed by the van’s guards until it arrived at its destination at 18:05.
Upon arrival, Baker immediately informed officers, “Get that fella out, I killed him,” and added, “Uso [Samoan slang for ‘brother’], you better pull that guy out I just killed him. He isn’t breathing.”
An ambulance was called, but it arrived 25 minutes later.
Liam was rushed to Auckland Public Hospital with severe brain injuries.
Despite medical efforts, he showed no signs of recovery.
The following day, August 25, at 10:30, Liam’s family made the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support.
He was pronounced dead at 10:45.
The murder shocked the nation and exposed critical failures in the prison transport system, particularly the decision to place a vulnerable teenager like Liam in close proximity to a dangerous offender like Baker.
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| George Charlie Baker |
Legal Proceedings and Motive for the Attack
Following Liam Ashley’s murder, George Charlie Baker was swiftly charged and brought to trial.
On December 1, 2006, Baker was convicted of Liam’s murder and sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 18 years.
During the trial, Baker admitted to killing Liam but offered a chilling explanation for his actions.
Baker claimed that Liam lived near the location of a previous crime he had committed.
This made him to suspect that the teenager might have witnessed the incident or could be used as a witness by prosecutors.
He claimed that he believed Liam was a “nark” (informant) who could potentially testify against him in court.
Baker also attempted to justify the attack by claiming it was not premeditated.
Additionally, Baker stated that he and Liam had discussed a possible escape from the van during the transport.
According to Baker, they tried to ram open the van doors but failed.
When Liam refused to fake a seizure to attract the guards’ attention, Baker claimed he “lost it” and attacked him.
However, these claims were largely dismissed by the court, as evidence and witness testimony painted a clear picture of a brutal and unprovoked assault.
The sole witness to the attack, referred to as “Prisoner E,” corroborated parts of Baker’s account but added critical details.
Prisoner E stated that Baker tightened his grip on Liam’s throat as the van approached its destination, suggesting a deliberate intent to kill.
Baker’s history of violent behavior, including prior convictions for assault and aggravated robbery, further undermined his defense.
The court’s ruling highlighted the gravity of Baker’s actions, and his life sentence reflected the severity of the crime.
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