Mother warned prison staff of suicide risk SA mother Pam Payne at home in 2011 with a portrait of her son Mark, 28, who took his own life while on suicide watch in Yatala Prison. Picture: Matt Turner Source: adelaidenow THE MOTHER of a prisoner on suicide watch at Yatala Labour Prison phoned jail staff to warn them her son would kill himself, less than half an hour before he committed suicide, the SA State Coroner has heard. Coroner Mark Johns today opened an inquest into the death of Mark William Payne, who hanged himself while in the state's highest-security cells at Yatala on June 2, 2011. Mr Payne, 28, had earlier that day been refused bail on a variety of minor charges and had been depressed and threatening suicide in the months before. The court heard Mr Payne had become depressed at the earlier breakdown of a relationship and that he had turned to a variety of prescription and illicit drugs in the months leading up to his death. His mother, Pamela Payne, told the inquest she knew her son was planning to harm himself when he was declined bail and returned to G Division in Yatala. "As he was leaving the court I was looking at him and he just turned and wouldn't look at me ... that was the last time I saw him," Mrs Payne said. Mrs Payne and her son's lawyer both told authorities they believed the 28-year old was a suicide risk. She broke down as she recalled phoning staff at Yatala about 7pm but was told she could not speak to her son. She said staff told her Mr Payne was under video surveillance, could contact staff on an intercom and had been observed eating and laying in bed minutes before her call. "I remember saying ... if anyone who is going to commit suicide isn't going to ring an intercom and ask for help," Mrs Payne said. If I could have spoken to him that night I know that I could have convinced him to hang on another week when he could get bail. If I could have had that opportunity I know I would still have my son today. Counsel Assisting the Coroner, Amy Cacas, said Mr Payne was able to hang himself about 7.30pm using a canvas gown worn by at-risk inmates. However, it was not until 7.55pm that staff noticed Mr Payne motionless and called for help. Ms Cacas said staff in the Yatala control room were tasked with observing inmates through CCTV and physical checks. However, the court heard that the CCTV flicked between cells at five-minute intervals and that Mr Payne's cell could only be monitored for five minutes of each half hour. If you are suffering depression, contact Lifeline, phone 13 11 14 or at www.lifeline.org.au or beyondblue, phone 1300 22 4636 or at www.beyondblue.org.au