Prisoner read letter then killed himself

Aug 19 2008 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A FATAL accident inquiry into the death of remand prisoner John Brown in a cell in Perth Prison’s A Hall on June 2 last year heard that the 32-year-old from Glenrothes had been upset and angry about a letter received just before his death.

Thomas Cummings said his cell-mate Mr Brown had been fine until becoming upset and angry on receiving a letter. Mr Cummings told the inquiry before Sheriff Robert McCreadie that Mr Brown had said his girlfriend had picked him out at an identity parade.

At around lunchtime that day, a third occupant of the cell found Mr Brown dead in the toilet. It appeared he had hung himself using a bed sheet tied to the bars of the window.

Mr Cummings said he and the other cell occupant pressed their cell buzzer, shouted and banged on the door to summon a prison officer. Mr Cummings thought it could have taken between five and 10 minutes for an officer to arrive.

The officer who answered the call, Brian Simpson, told the inquiry that he was the only member of staff covering the hall at the time.

Dr Tomes Shayna who conducted the routine check on Mr Brown on his admission to Perth Prison told the inquiry that Mr Brown had said he was on methadone but had not shown any indication of physical or mental health problems and there had been nothing to justify the remand prisoner being classed as high risk and put in an observation cell.

Evidence in the inquiry, being heard before Sheriff Robert McCreadie, is expected to be concluded on September 22.