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Temple Garden Chambers is a leading common law set based in London and The Hague.
With excellence from top to bottom Chambers provides a first class service in a number of different fields.
07/08/2024
The Inquest touching upon the death of RN concluded at Bedford Coroner’s Court, sitting at Ampthill, on 7 August 2024.
The jury, having heard evidence from 20 live witnesses, concluded that RN hung himself in his prison cell at HMP Bedford and this “came about due to [RN’s] dissocial personality disorder, exacerbated by inhumane living conditions over the period 27th – 31st March 2020 and the COVID regime”.
On 16 January 2020, RN was transferred to HMP Bedford from HMP Wayland. During this period of incarceration, RN was placed on an Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (‘ACCT’) plan on two separate occasions (17 – 18 January 2020; 19 March – 14 April 2020) owing to concerns about his risk of suicide and self-harm. Whilst on the second ACCT plan, between 27 – 31 March 2020, RN was held in a cell in “inhumane living conditions” with no access to sanitation. On 27 March 2020, RN damaged the cell he was held in and was moved into a new cell. On arrival at the new cell, RN initially damaged the fixtures and fittings and then later set the bedding on fire. On 1 April 2020, RN was moved into a new cell.
On 30 April 2020, at around 7.30am, a prison officer discovered RN ligatured in his cell. Following failed resuscitation attempts, RN was pronounced dead.
The Article 2 Inquest, lasting seven days, considered a range of issues such as: the nature and condition of RN’s detention; the assessment and management of ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) plans; and RN’s mental health history, diagnosis and treatment.
No adverse findings were made against Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.
Sian Reeves, instructed by Bobby Walia of the Government Legal Department, represented the Ministry of Justice.
Daniel Walker, instructed by Arran Firth of Hempsons LLP, represented Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.
