IRR News
Death in Pentonville prison
By Harmit Athwal
3 April 2008, 4:00pm
IRR News has learnt that, on 30 March 2008, a man detained under immigration powers was found hanged at Pentonville prison.
Alfredo Castano-Fuentes, 24, was found hanged in his cell during a routine cell inspection. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead. Alfredo had served a one-year sentence for possessing a false passport and was being held under immigration powers at the overcrowded Pentonville prison. According to Ministry of Justice population in custody tables, in February 2008, Pentonville prison had certified normal accommodation (CNA) for 799 people but was actually holding 1,138 people.[1]
A Prison Service spokesperson told IRR News: 'Alfredo Castano-Fuentes was found hanging in his cell at 5.15am on Sunday 30 March [and] was pronounced dead at 10.45am. Our sympathies are with Mr Castano-Fuentes's family. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.'
[1] See Population in custody (monthly) tables on the Ministry of Justice website. Information on Alfredo Castano-Fuentes supplied by INQUEST. The Institute of Race Relations is precluded from expressing a corporate view: any opinions expressed are therefore those of the authors.Related links
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