The family of a man who died in Villawood Detention Centre last month say they do not believe he died of a heart attack, as the Immigration Department said, and have accused the Department of covering up the circumstances surrounding the death.

Key point Witnesses say Robert Peihopa was involved in a fight before he died in Villawood last month

Witnesses say Robert Peihopa was involved in a fight before he died in Villawood last month Family and witnesses report bruising and cuts on Robert Peihopa's face

Family and witnesses report bruising and cuts on Robert Peihopa's face Immigration Department says Robert Peihopa probably died of a heart attack



On the evening of New Zealander Robert Peihopa's death, his mother, Hera, was told that he died of a heart attack after a sparring session in the gym.

"I thought that was a bit too quick to be giving me a reason like that," Hera Peihopa told 7.30.

"It was too quick, and even before he'd been examined, to say he'd had a heart attack, it just sounded really strange … just didn't feel right."

Her fears were confirmed later when she saw the body.

"When I saw his body he had two black eyes, one more severe than the other, he had abrasions on his face and in the back of his head he had a gash and it was stitched up," she said.

"That told me a lot, actually, that there was an altercation of some sort, definitely."

Anastasia Kalaboukas, Robert's former partner, and the mother of his three children, agreed.

"I was really upset when I first saw the body because what we were told, that he died of a heart attack, clearly wasn't the case," she told 7.30.

"He was badly bruised, he also had a laceration to his face and when I spoke to the detective (he told me) he did not die of a heart attack and his cause of death was still unknown."

"I believe someone should be held accountable for his death."

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Witnesses say detainee was involved in a fight

Several Villawood witnesses who spoke to 7.30 say Mr Peihopa was involved in a fight prior to his death in the detention centre.

Lee Mulligan says he was given a visa and released from Villawood after suffering serious injuries when beaten by a fellow detainee.

Among them is Englishman Lee Mulligan, who was a friend of Robert Peihopa in Villawood and one of the key witnesses who saw his body immediately after he died.

"I'd just left my friend's house in another compound and headed up home at about 9.30 that night, and just as I was about to enter my unit I looked to my left and I found Rob's body on his back facing upwards, lifeless, with two young (detainees) over him trying to wake him up," Mr Mulligan told 7.30.

"Within one or two minutes I started to realise that something was really wrong."

"I was under the impression that he'd been knocked out in a fight 'cause he had his straps on, his gym straps, so I thought he'd had a fight."

"He had two black eyes and a scratch from there down to there," he said, pointing to Robert's right cheek in a photo.

Mr Mulligan also disagreed with the Immigration Department's assessment that Robert died of a heart attack.

"Absolutely not," he said.

"Not judging by the marks on his face and the straps on his hands."

"He'd had a face, and, I'd say more so, a brain injury."

"Somebody needs to be held accountable, if not the person who's done it, the staff."

"It should have been monitored, it should have been cameras there, it's a very grey area the security."

Family criticises 'complete silence' from department

Hera Peihopa looks at photos of her son

Hera Peihopa said she felt authorities were covering up the real circumstances of her son's death.

"I really feel that they are not telling us everything, that they know they are keeping it very much under cover," Hera Peihopa said.

"They are not being open and sharing any information at all. I've had absolutely nothing, I've heard nothing at all in regards to any details around Robert's death.

"There's complete silence, so, yes, I do think someone is covering up.

"The circumstances of his death makes it very uncomfortable for them and they don't look good.

"I'm sure they are unhappy about the whole issue with his untimely death, but that's part of the whole thing, it's not as though they can walk away from it and say that was bad luck and hopefully it will go away."

She said she would keep asking questions until she found out what really went on.

"The one thing that keeps me going is I want to get to the truth of what happened," she said.

"I don't want his death to be swept under the carpet and I don't want him to be forgotten as being just another detainee."

"He was a real person and he was beautiful and he was my son."

New South Wales Police are investigating Mr Peihopa's death and say they are preparing a coroner's report.

The Immigration Department says it is aware of claims of a fight in Villawood but is waiting to see the report from the coroner.