Youth Justice: Hanging inquest gives open verdict
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The jury at the inquest into the death of teenager Daniel Nelson has returned an open verdict.
Nelson was found hanging in his cell at Doncaster Young Offender Institution in September 2005, while on remand. It was the 18-year-old's first time in custody and he had been moved to the prison's healthcare unit after exhibiting strange behaviour including claiming there were hanging ropes under his bed.
The jury in the eight-day inquest were not allowed access to a report from the prison ombudsman that looked into factors surrounding his death.
Helen Shaw, co-director of bereavement charity Inquest said Nelson's death reaffirmed its concerns about putting young people in custody. "It is outrageous that the jury were not allowed to consider the content of the ombudsman's report and therefore understand the serious issues raised by Daniel's time in the health care centre at Doncaster YOI in detail," she said.
"It is yet another indication of the need for fundamental reform of the inquest system so that lessons can be learned to prevent similar deaths in the future."