The government and judicial authorities faced criticism for the case, particularly regarding the methods of transporting prisoners in New Zealand, as Ashley had committed minor non-violent offenses while Baker had a history of recidivism and violent crime.

[6] He changed schools a minimum of three times due to behavioral and learning difficulties before being sent to Halswell Residential College in Christchurch.

Nicknamed "Crazy Liam" by his friends, Ashley had experienced "minor trouble" with police related to public drinking and disorderly conduct, but was not noted in the youth justice court before the summer of 2006.

[6] On 30 June 2006, Ashley was arrested and charged by the North Shore District Court the next day with wilfull trespass, daylight burglary of property valued below $500 and possession of a knife in a public place.

[3] Baker, a concrete fabricator by trade, had been released in March 2006 following seven-year imprisonment in prison with periodic psychiatric care, following his conviction for the assault of an elderly woman during a home invasion.

He was being held on remand after pleading guilty for aggravated robbery and wounding with intent in connection with the stabbing of a teenager during an attempted mugging at a wharf in Beach Haven, North Shore City in April 2006.

[9][10] Baker was classified as a dangerous criminal and variously claimed affiliation with or membership in the Black Power and King Cobras gangs.

Baker claimed that both had tried to unsuccessfully ram open the truck doors and that he attacked Ashley when he refused to get the attention of officers by faking a seizure.

[20] After the publication of the report, Simon Power, an Opposition Justice & Corrections spokesman, asked O'Connor to resign due to the shortcomings in his department.

Power criticized the system for failing to keep Ashley, a first-time offender, and Baker, a high-risk prisoner, separated.

[22] On 27 August 2009, Baker took a fellow inmate, an 83-year-old man convicted of sex offenses,[23] hostage in Auckland Prison using a makeshift knife and two razor blades.

[24] In 2010, Baker was found guilty on charges that resulted from these two incidents and was subsequently sentenced to preventive detention with no possibility of parole for at least 16 years.