Police may launch a murder inquiry, after the life support machine of a court guard was switched off, following an attack while transferring a prisoner to court on Monday (29/06/15).
The Daily Mail reports that Serco court guard Lorraine Barwell, 54, was seriously injured after a prisoner kicked and stamped on her while being transferred between prison and Blackfriars Crown Court.
It is reported that while handcuffed to the prisoner, she was forced to the ground and kicked repeatedly in the chest and head, sustaining serious head injuries.
She was placed on life support after the attack, but doctors at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London told her family that there was no hope of the grandmother recovering.
Mrs Barwell – from Romford in east London – had worked for prison security company Serco for ten years. She died at 2.49am on Thursday after her life support machine was switched off.
Her death means police can now launch a murder inquiry. Mrs Barwell’s family are also calling for answers as to how she could have been attacked so viciously while carrying out her normal duties as a court guard.
Her 34-year-old son Jason – also from Romford – said:
“Serco have questions to answer – I want to know how this happened and why it was allowed to happen. We haven't heard anything from them.
“There were two staff she works with every day and they were in bits at the hospital.
“The family are in shock and just devastated – she just went to work Monday morning and didn't come home at the end of the day.”
The Metropolitan Police said on Thursday afternoon that Mrs Barwell’s death had yet to be officially pronounced.
On Thursday, former law student Humphrey Burke, 22, from Oxford appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrate's Court, accompanied by seven court guards in body armour.
He gave no plea to a single charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Mrs Barwell.
The MailOnline has contacted Serco for comment.
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