Prison guards cleared over hanging death

Apr 2 2007

FOUR prison guards standing trial over the death of a Birmingham man in their care have been cleared of all charges on the directions of the judge.

Drug dealer Michael Bailey, 23, was found hanged by his shoelace from the door to his cell in the segregation block at the privately-run Rye Hill Prison in March 2005.

Daniel Daymond, 23, of Rugby, Paul Smith, 39, of Warrington, and Samantha Prime, 29, also of Rugby, were cleared of charges of manslaughter by gross negligence in connection with Mr Bailey's death.

A fourth prison guard, Ben King, 21, of Southbrook, Daventry, along with Daymond, was also cleared of one charge of perverting the course of justice by doctoring log books for suicide watches.

The prison, run by private firm GSL on the Northamptonshire-Warwickshire border, has previously been criticised by Government inspectors for having too few - and often inexperienced - guards controlling inmates.

Clearing all four defendants of all charges, Mr Justice Grigson told Northampton Crown Court that failures in the prison system may have contributed to the death of Mr Bailey.

He said: "I am not saying that there is no fault or failing in the system or of any individual - my judgment relates solely to these defendants.

"No one who has heard the evidence in this court can have any doubt that the death of Michael Bailey was a tragedy. His death was a tragedy, not least because it was avoidable.

"Over a few days he went from being a fit young man in the prime of his life, looking forward to his release, to an anguished, confused, deluded and occasionally violent man who had taken his own life.

"I recognise that this decision may add to the distress of Mr Bailey's family. That I deeply regret, but I cannot avoid my responsibility."