Inquests - Active Cases

Inquest into the death of Scott Sadler-Marriott
Listed 6th September 2010 for 2 weeks at Woking

The inquest into the death of Scott is due to commence on the 6th September 2010 at Woking Coroners Court before HM Deputy Coroner for Surrey.

Scott was aged 20 years when he was found hanging in his cell at HMP High Down on the 13th May 2008. Scott had a long history of self harm and is believed to have attempted suicide on a number of occasions prior to being detained at HMP High Down. Scott had only served four weeks of his sentence when he was found hanging in his cell.

It is hoped that the inquest will answer concerns surrounding:

· The prisons failure to recognise that he was a risk of self harm/suicide
· The failure to prescribe him the medication he needed for his mental health conditions
· The failure to act upon an email received from Scott's criminal solicitor informing them of his self harm risk
· The failure to put in place protective measures following numerous phone calls made by Scott's family to the prison informing them of their concerns about his risk of self harm only hours before he took his own life

The family are being represented at the inquest by INQUEST lawyers Gemma Vine and Kirsten Heaven, Counsel of Garden Court Chambers, London.

Inquest into the death of Anthony Thornley
Listed 13th September 2010 for 1 week at Manchester

The inquest into the death of Anthony is due to commence on the 13th September 2010 at Manchester Civil Justice Centre before HM Coroner for Manchester Nigel Meadows .

Mr Thornley was found hanging in a cell at HMP Manchester and was pronounced dead at North Manchester General Hospital on the 8th September 2006. Mr Thornley was withdrawing from drugs at the time of his death and was remanded into custody earlier that day. Mr Thornley was treated by a prison GP for his withdrawal symptoms. He was found hanging in his cell by prison officers at 10pm that evening.

It is hoped that the inquest will answer concerns surrounding:

· Whether he received appropriate treatment for his withdrawal;
· Whether the withdrawal programme offered by HMP Manchester was appropriate at the time of Anthony's death;
· The prisons failure to recognise that he was a risk of self harm/suicide as a result of his withdrawal;

The family are being represented at the inquest by INQUEST lawyers Gemma Vine and Mr Andrew Bridgman, Counsel of St John's Buildings Chambers, Manchester.

Inquest into the death of David Brown
Listed 29th September 2010 for 3 days at Blackpool

The inquest into the death of David is due to commence on the 29th September 2010 at Blackpool Town Hall before HM Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde Coast Anne Hind. 

In the early hours of the 10th May 2005, Mr Brown and a friend of his, were arrested in the Sandcastle Leisure Centre for Burglary. The two of them had been on a drug and drink binge for the previous two days. Mr Brown was seen by the police surgeon and was prescribed medication for the withdrawal of alcohol only. Mr Brown was found collapsed in his cell at 8.30am the following morning. He was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

It is hoped that the inquest will answer concerns surrounding:

· Whether he received appropriate treatment for his withdrawal;
· Whether the first aid training provided to officers was appropriate;
· What was the cause of death as this is still undetermined by the pathologist.

The family are being represented at the inquest by INQUEST lawyers Gemma Vine and Mr Colin Hutchinson, Counsel of Garden Court Chambers, London.


Inquest into the death of Richard Baldwin
Listed 29th September 2010 for 2 weeks at Peterborough

Mr Baldwin was arrested on Friday the 9th December 2005 and appeared in the Magistrates Court the next day, thereafter remanded into HMP Peterborough due to reappear at Court on Monday the 12th December.

Mr Baldwin was being treated for a leg injury and it was suspected he carried MRSA. Mr Baldwin was extremely ill and in the morning he was found semi-conscious and an ambulance was called.  He died at hospital. 

The family hopes the Inquest will examine:

• The healthcare treatment that Mr Baldwin received
• Why there wasnt medical intervention at an earlier stage
• The lack of staff on duty that evening

The family are being represented at the inquest by INQUEST lawyer Gemma Vine and Mr Chris Williams, Counsel of Tooks Chambers, London.

Inquest into the death of Gino Morini (Dean Dewhurst)
Listed 6th December 2010 for 2 weeks at Liverpool

The inquest into the death of Dean is due to commence on Monday 6th December 2010 at Liverpool Coroners Court before HM Coroner for Liverpool, Andre Rebello.

Gino Morini was 50 years of age when he died on the 25th March 2009, after being found hanging in his cell at 9.30am the same morning.

Dean was not being monitored under the prison's suicide and self harm monitoring and support procedures (ACCT) at the time of his death. however, he was placed on this monitoring system on his arrival at HMP Altcourse and the ACCT document had only been closed three days prior to his death. Dean had also been seeing a counsellor throughout this time and the family are concerned that her advice not to close the ACCT document may have been ignored.

The family hope the inquest will also answer concerns surrounding:

· Why the counsellor was nor invited to attend the ACCT review meetings
· Why Mr Morini was not offered RMN support
· Why the ACCT document was closed on the 23rd March when Mr Morini was still informing staff and his Counsellor that if his relationship with his wife ended he would take his life
· Why staff did not monitor Mr Morini when he received legal correspondence on the 24th March when staff knew he was expecting divorce documentation from his wife.

The family are being represented at the inquest by INQUEST lawyer Gemma Vine and Mr Andrew Bridgman, Counsel of St John's Buildings Chambers, Manchester.

Inquest into the death of Joseph Bennett
Listed 7th of January 2011 for 2 weeks at Liverpool

The inquest into the death of Joseph Bennett is due to commence on Friday 7th January 2011 at Liverpool Coroners Court before HM Coroner for Liverpool, Andre Rebello.

Joseph Bennett was 31 years of age when he died on the 16th December 2008, after being found hanging in his cell at 9.52pm on the 15th December 2008. He was being monitored under the prison's suicide and self harm monitoring and support procedures (ACCT) at the time of his death.

The family hope the inquest will answer concerns surrounding:

· Why reviews and observations were not carried out in accordance with the open ACCT document
· Whether he received appropriate treatment for his withdrawal
· Why the equipment used by the prison for resuscitation was faulty at the time of Joseph's death
· Whether the withdrawal programme offered by HMP Altcourse was appropriate at the time of Joseph's death

The family are being represented at the inquest by INQUEST lawyer Gemma Vine and Mr John Hobson, Counsel of Doughty Street Chambers, Manchester.