The family of Liam Ashley have released a statement describing the teen as gentle and kind.

The 17-year-old died after being assaulted and strangled in the back of a prison van on Thursday night.

Liam's uncle, Brett Ashley says they are respectable, loving and caring family who are shocked and devastated by the death.

Mr Ashley says the youth had recently started to have some minor trouble with the law, and as a result his parents felt the safest place for him was in the New Zealand Justice System, adding it was a last resort.

He says their immediate concern is to work with the police to ensure justice is served for Liam, and that nothing like this can happen to anyone else in the future.

Mr Ashley says it is an emotional time for his family, who are trying to rationalise how his death occurred.

This afternoon a man was charged with Liam Ashley's murder. He will be appearing in court tomorrow.