Prison officers were looking at emails and half listening to music when a maximum security inmate escaped their watch at a major hospital, an inquest has been told.
Young father Nicholas Aaron Scott was found shot dead at a home north of Hobart on January 3, 2023, after absconding from the Royal Hobart Hospital the night prior.
David Coles is serving eight years in jail for Scott's manslaughter, which occurred during a chaotic fight at the home.
Scott, 26, had been transported to the hospital from a maximum security section of Hobart's prison following instances of self-harm.
Correctional officers Craig Cox and Martin Oppitz, who were tasked with guarding Scott at the hospital, gave evidence on Monday at the inquest.
Mr Cox said he was "freshly minted" and three-and-a-half months into the job when he was asked to do a shift at the hospital.
Scott was uncuffed from the hospital bed so he could use the bathroom, Mr Cox said.
Scott had been in the toilet for about 10 minutes when Mr Cox heard the bathroom door open.
Mr Cox, who said the incident was the most traumatic experience of his life, had been reading emails and listening for activity when Scott was in the bathroom.
"In the time it took for me to look up from my email, just to lift my head and eyes, he was already out the door," Mr Cox said.
"It happened so quickly. (He) popped out like a jack-in-the-box."
Mr Cox was asked why in hospital CCTV there was a gap of a few seconds between Scott running out of the room and the officers chasing.
"Scott is a young man. A lot fitter than the both of us. I'm a middle-aged man sprinting from a cold start," Mr Cox said.
He and Mr Oppitz said a risk assessment usually provided for escorted prisoners wasn't part of Scott's handover from other officers.
Mr Oppitz said he was sitting in a chair near the doorway of the hospital room, listening to music with one headphone so he could hear what was happening in the toilet.
"I was observing the door. Mr Cox was on the other side of the bed," he said.
Scott pushed open the door, ran straight past and was "gone", Mr Oppitz said.
He said he had taken his shoes off during the shift because of swelling in one ankle caused by a bee sting.
Scott ran to nearby Salamanca Square and got a taxi, the inquest was told.
Mr Oppitz said it was not unusual for prison staff to watch movies and listen to music to stay awake during night shifts involving inmates at the hospital.
Mr Oppitz, who has 19 years experience with Tasmania's prison service, and Mr Cox said they hadn't received any formal training on guarding inmates at hospitals.
Mr Cox was pointed to elements of training relating to prisoner escorts but said he couldn't remember it.
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