Pentonville Prison stabbing: one dead, two injured. Prison conditions must improve to prevent future death in custody cases. (26 October 2016)

A stabbing in Pentonville Prison has left one prisoner dead and two others critically injured. This has led to the Prison Governors Association (PGA) criticising prison conditions.

The attack happened on Tuesday 18th October and two prisoners, aged 34 and 35, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. The deceased inmate, Jamal Mahmoud, was a young man of 21 who died shortly after the attack. The two injured prisoners were rushed to hospital with knife wounds.

It is claimed by those at the scene that the weapon used was a “hunting-style knife.” No motives have yet been clarified but there have been claims by those working close to the case that it could have been a dispute between gangs or drug debts. Friend of the deceased, Danny Rynne, stated that Mahmoud had “a girlfriend who’s just had a baby that was born two weeks ago.” Another report in Evening standard states the baby was 10 months old and it was his fiancé

A PGA spokesman stated: “our members, uniformed staff and prisoners are working and living in squalid and brutal conditions which should not be tolerated in a country that is one of the richest in the Western world.” They added: “if a society is judged by how it treats those it locks up, then we are in a very dark place.” The PGA has once again called for a public inquiry in response to what it believes is an “unprecedented” rise in prison suicides and violence.

A spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice has said the Justice Secretary has made it clear that safety in prisons was “fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans.” In these reform plans, the Ministry of Justice claims it will spend an extra £14 million in 10 prisons in order to increase staffing levels. Concerns about the safety of Pentonville prison have been circulating for a while. Indeed, the Pentonville Independent Monitoring Board said that the government needs to either “knock down” or “urgently upgrade” the prison, claiming it is “decrepit”. Last summer, the then Justice Secretary Michael Gove said: “Pentonville is the most dramatic example of failure within the prison estate, but its problems, while more acute than anywhere else, are very far from unique." The legal high named “Spice” has apparently played its part in the prison. It has apparently driven the creation of an illicit economy which has led in turn to violence.

A relative of an inmate of Pentonville stated: “"As a mother everyone tells you at least you know where he is and he is safe - but actually he's not safe, is he?” In Pentonville’s annual independent board report it stated that there were around 16 violent incidents each week, but that this number had fallen year on year.

Fleur Hallett, specialist solicitor in Inquest matters at Duncan Lewis, states “as a solicitor who represents bereaved families in death in custody cases, I am horrified but sadly not surprised to hear of the tragic circumstances in which Mr Mahmoud died. In prisons across the country the same themes arise. Prisons are under resourced and consequently little is being done to effectively tackle the prevalent culture of contraband, drugs, debt and violence; leaving the more vulnerable prisoners susceptible to attack. The public will never have confidence in a prison system that allows ‘hunting-style’ knives to make their way undetected into a supposedly secure establishment. “

Following this tragic incident the police have launched a criminal investigation. The Prison and Probation Ombudsman will also launch a Fatal Incident Investigation in order to establish what was happening to Mr Mahmoud before his death. The focus is on learning lessons and recommendations can be made with the aim of preventing similar incidences occurring in the future. Following the conclusions of both of these investigations an Article 2 “Right to life” inquest will be conducted by the Coroner, which will seek to establish, in what circumstances Mr Mahmoud died.

Fleur added: “Death in custody cases are the most distressing proceedings families unexpectedly find themselves involved in. No one expects their loved one to be taken into prison and then lose their life.”

Preparing for and attending an inquest can be a distressing and bewildering time for a bereaved family. Duncan Lewis’ civil liberties solicitors represent bereaved families during death investigations conducted by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, at Coroners’ Inquests and Public Inquiries into deaths in custody.

We can offer expert legal advice, whilst compassionately supporting and guiding you through the inquest process. We believe it is vitally important that family members are afforded the opportunity to fully participate in every aspect of the inquest proceedings and will take every step to ensure this is possible. Our solicitors will fight to uncover all relevant facts, surrounding the death of a loved one in prison, are highlighted and advise when compensation can be sought from those who are found to have been responsible.

If you, or someone you know, is in need of a death in custody solicitor, don’t hesitate to call Duncan Lewis on 033 3772 0409.