Manslaughter charge for prison guard's alleged killer

A prison inmate alleged to have carried out a fatal assault on a prison guard at a North Waikato prison last month is set to face a more serious charge at his next court appearance.

Originally charged with assault, the 21-year-old inmate will now be facing a charge of manslaughter when he appears in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow.

The charge relates to the death of 33-year-old prison guard, Jason Palmer, at the Springhill Springhill Correctional Facility on 15 May.