A Corrections Officer has recalled to a Coroner's Court thinking an inmate who later died in custody looked like a corpse the day before he was found dead.

Jai Davis died at the Otago Correctional Facility in 2011.

Corrections officer, Steven Gillan told the court how he thought Davis looked grey and was scratching.

He said he made this observation while a nurse was checking on Mr Davis, he said she described him as being fine.

Under cross examination, he was asked why he didn't take the matter further.

He said his job was to provide security for the nurses; it was their job to assess the inmates.