This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-32781461
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Darren Thomas family want Cardiff jail pen murder answers | Darren Thomas family want Cardiff jail pen murder answers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The family of a homeless man, murdered by his cellmate in Cardiff Prison with a ballpoint pen, has demanded to know why the two were put together. | The family of a homeless man, murdered by his cellmate in Cardiff Prison with a ballpoint pen, has demanded to know why the two were put together. |
| Darren Thomas, 45, was killed by Colin Capp during a 12-week sentence for breaching an Asbo for begging. | Darren Thomas, 45, was killed by Colin Capp during a 12-week sentence for breaching an Asbo for begging. |
| Capp, 23, who had paranoid schizophrenia, was jailed for life for the "sustained and vicious attack." | Capp, 23, who had paranoid schizophrenia, was jailed for life for the "sustained and vicious attack." |
| The Prison Service said it took the duty to keep prisoners, staff and others safe "extremely seriously". | The Prison Service said it took the duty to keep prisoners, staff and others safe "extremely seriously". |
| Three previous cellmates had earlier expressed concerns about his strange behaviour. | Three previous cellmates had earlier expressed concerns about his strange behaviour. |
| Capp, originally from Scotland, had been recalled to prison for breaching his licence after being released from a jail term for setting fire to his girlfriend's flat. | Capp, originally from Scotland, had been recalled to prison for breaching his licence after being released from a jail term for setting fire to his girlfriend's flat. |
| The trial heard Mr Thomas was killed a few weeks into his sentence for breaching an Asbo, which had prevented him from entering Cardiff city centre. | The trial heard Mr Thomas was killed a few weeks into his sentence for breaching an Asbo, which had prevented him from entering Cardiff city centre. |
| Capp had wrapped a plastic bag tightly around Darren's head as he slept, and either strangled or suffocated him before stabbing him 100 times in the neck with the pen. | Capp had wrapped a plastic bag tightly around Darren's head as he slept, and either strangled or suffocated him before stabbing him 100 times in the neck with the pen. |
| But Capp has never explained why he did it or shown any remorse. | But Capp has never explained why he did it or shown any remorse. |
| He is now serving a minimum of 16 years for the murder in March 2014 and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating the circumstances. | He is now serving a minimum of 16 years for the murder in March 2014 and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating the circumstances. |
| Mr Thomas's family - younger brother Jeremy, mother and stepfather - are questioning whether his death could have been avoided, and consulting a solicitor about a possible civil action. | Mr Thomas's family - younger brother Jeremy, mother and stepfather - are questioning whether his death could have been avoided, and consulting a solicitor about a possible civil action. |
| NEARLY 30 YEARS ON THE STREETS | NEARLY 30 YEARS ON THE STREETS |
| Darren Thomas's story is of nearly 30 years of struggle until a tragic end. | Darren Thomas's story is of nearly 30 years of struggle until a tragic end. |
| He had spent much of his life living on the streets, and in and out of various hostels and rented accommodation, since leaving home at 16 after his parents split up. | He had spent much of his life living on the streets, and in and out of various hostels and rented accommodation, since leaving home at 16 after his parents split up. |
| His family said he suffered from many issues, including self-esteem problems, which led him to begging on the streets and struggling with heroin abuse. | His family said he suffered from many issues, including self-esteem problems, which led him to begging on the streets and struggling with heroin abuse. |
| Although he had his problems, Mr Thomas was said to be intelligent - with an IQ at Mensa levels - and "a gentle soul". | Although he had his problems, Mr Thomas was said to be intelligent - with an IQ at Mensa levels - and "a gentle soul". |
| His family said he was comfortable with a life on the streets and they would see him in Cardiff city centre and give him money or clothes. | His family said he was comfortable with a life on the streets and they would see him in Cardiff city centre and give him money or clothes. |
| Mr Thomas had been in prison about a dozen times before for Asbo breaches and begging, but this was a last resort. | Mr Thomas had been in prison about a dozen times before for Asbo breaches and begging, but this was a last resort. |
| "My brother walked into the city centre, stood outside HSBC and rang police to say he'd broken his Asbo… he said 'I'm not coping, come and get me,' Jeremy Thomas, 42, told BBC Wales. | "My brother walked into the city centre, stood outside HSBC and rang police to say he'd broken his Asbo… he said 'I'm not coping, come and get me,' Jeremy Thomas, 42, told BBC Wales. |
| "I wish he could have maybe reached out to me or my mum, or to someone else… the whole thing, the chain of events, it's just tragic. | "I wish he could have maybe reached out to me or my mum, or to someone else… the whole thing, the chain of events, it's just tragic. |
| "Initially there should have been some sort of halfway house. My brother had a beautiful soul, he was harmless, posed no threat, wasn't violent at all - he was just trying to survive on the streets - so should he have been put on a wing where there were potentially violent people?" | |
| At the murder trial, the jury was told that a Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA) had been completed by prison staff before Mr Thomas was placed in a cell with Capp. | At the murder trial, the jury was told that a Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA) had been completed by prison staff before Mr Thomas was placed in a cell with Capp. |
| However, the court also heard previous cellmates had earlier asked to be moved while Mr Thomas himself expressed concern about his cellmate being on suicide watch, with hourly checks being made by prison officers. | However, the court also heard previous cellmates had earlier asked to be moved while Mr Thomas himself expressed concern about his cellmate being on suicide watch, with hourly checks being made by prison officers. |
| THE NIGHT HE DIED - 6 MARCH 2014. | THE NIGHT HE DIED - 6 MARCH 2014. |
| The pair had been locked in the cell since 7pm the previous evening, and prison officers discovered Mr Thomas's body on the floor at 03:25am after Capp rang an alarm to alert them. | The pair had been locked in the cell since 7pm the previous evening, and prison officers discovered Mr Thomas's body on the floor at 03:25am after Capp rang an alarm to alert them. |
| The next hourly check was due five minutes later. | The next hourly check was due five minutes later. |
| As well as a plastic bag around his head, Mr Thomas was found to have around 100 puncture marks to the left side of his neck made by a pen. | As well as a plastic bag around his head, Mr Thomas was found to have around 100 puncture marks to the left side of his neck made by a pen. |
| The prison authorities were aware of Capp's mental health issues: the trial heard that he was readmitted to prison after checking himself into a psychiatric ward at Whitchurch Hospital in Cardiff, saying he was thinking of starting more fires. | The prison authorities were aware of Capp's mental health issues: the trial heard that he was readmitted to prison after checking himself into a psychiatric ward at Whitchurch Hospital in Cardiff, saying he was thinking of starting more fires. |
| FAMILY REACTION | FAMILY REACTION |
| Jeremy Thomas was allowed to visit the prison following the murder and spent an hour in the cell where his brother died. | Jeremy Thomas was allowed to visit the prison following the murder and spent an hour in the cell where his brother died. |
| He laid flowers and said a prayer. | He laid flowers and said a prayer. |
| "It's a dreadful place - dark and small. It hurts that he spent the last hours of his life in that cell," he said. | "It's a dreadful place - dark and small. It hurts that he spent the last hours of his life in that cell," he said. |
| "Now we just want answers. It's not about compensation - nothing will bring Darren back. But we would like to see if someone's made a mistake, that they are big enough to stand up and admit they made a mistake and to learn from them." | "Now we just want answers. It's not about compensation - nothing will bring Darren back. But we would like to see if someone's made a mistake, that they are big enough to stand up and admit they made a mistake and to learn from them." |
| CONCERN FROM WELFARE GROUPS | CONCERN FROM WELFARE GROUPS |
| Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan said: "It's sad someone living on the street was really seeking sanctuary in the prison - I feel very strongly people should not have to go to prison to find a roof over the heads." | Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan said: "It's sad someone living on the street was really seeking sanctuary in the prison - I feel very strongly people should not have to go to prison to find a roof over the heads." |
| Prison welfare groups say they are concerned about an increase in the number of serious assaults taking place in prisons over recent years. They say a reduction in prison officer numbers and overcrowding issues may be contributing to this. | Prison welfare groups say they are concerned about an increase in the number of serious assaults taking place in prisons over recent years. They say a reduction in prison officer numbers and overcrowding issues may be contributing to this. |
| Figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal that Cardiff Prison had 40% fewer prison officers working in frontline duties in 2014 than in 2010. | Figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal that Cardiff Prison had 40% fewer prison officers working in frontline duties in 2014 than in 2010. |
| 'Learn lessons' | 'Learn lessons' |
| The prison is designed to hold 539 prisoners comfortably, but in the month Mr Thomas died, there were 801 inmates there. | The prison is designed to hold 539 prisoners comfortably, but in the month Mr Thomas died, there were 801 inmates there. |
| Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "It's the quality of relationships between staff and prisoners that really count, and if you reduce staffing levels you run a risk of staff not getting to know their prisoners in a way that they would want to, and in a way which really helps to keep people safe." | Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "It's the quality of relationships between staff and prisoners that really count, and if you reduce staffing levels you run a risk of staff not getting to know their prisoners in a way that they would want to, and in a way which really helps to keep people safe." |
| The Prison Service said: "We take our duty to keep prisoners, staff and others safe extremely seriously. Violence of any kind is not tolerated and serious incidents will be referred to the police for prosecution. | The Prison Service said: "We take our duty to keep prisoners, staff and others safe extremely seriously. Violence of any kind is not tolerated and serious incidents will be referred to the police for prosecution. |
| "The circumstances of this incident will now be investigated by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and we will make sure we learn any lessons from its report. | "The circumstances of this incident will now be investigated by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and we will make sure we learn any lessons from its report. |
| "Our sympathies are with the family and friends of Darren Thomas." | "Our sympathies are with the family and friends of Darren Thomas." |
| The PPO issued a "learning lessons bulletin" three months before Mr Thomas died in which the Prison Service said well-informed cell-sharing risk assessments were "essential" for indentifying prisoners at risk of seriously assaulting or killing a cellmate in a locked cell. | The PPO issued a "learning lessons bulletin" three months before Mr Thomas died in which the Prison Service said well-informed cell-sharing risk assessments were "essential" for indentifying prisoners at risk of seriously assaulting or killing a cellmate in a locked cell. |
| The Cardiff coroner is reviewing the case to decide whether to hold an inquest. | The Cardiff coroner is reviewing the case to decide whether to hold an inquest. |
| The PPO said its findings would be published following any inquest. | The PPO said its findings would be published following any inquest. |
| Its investigation will include an examination of risk assessments before the two men were placed together. | Its investigation will include an examination of risk assessments before the two men were placed together. |