The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE inmate who died in hospital last week was injured during a fight with another inmate in the Medium Security Housing Unit, according to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The inmate died on Independence Day, five days after being admitted to hospital, a statement released by the prison said yesterday.

Police are investigating the matter, but have not yet classified the death, The Tribune was told.

As a result of the argument, the deceased was taken to the facility’s Medical Department, and was seen by the medical officer, the BDCS said. The medical officer subsequently referred the inmate to the Princess Margaret Hospital for “further management and treatment”. However, the inmate died on July 10.

Police have not yet issued the name of the deceased, but The Tribune understands he is Samuel Pierre and that he was stabbed during the argument .

When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander, acting officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, could not provide any further details. He said police would not release any information until next of kin has been notified.

However, he said the investigation is “actively” in progress.

“As we advance, between now and the weekend, we’ll be able to bring further updates as to where we are in the investigation,” he told The Tribune.

The statement by the BDCS read: “On Sunday, July 5, at about 8pm, two residents housed at the Medium Security Housing Unit were involved in an altercation.

“As a result of the altercation, one of the residents was taken to the Department of Correctional Services’ Medical Department, and was seen by the medical officer who referred the resident to the Princess Margaret Hospital for further management and treatment.

“The matter has been turned over to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for further investigation and no additional information is available at this time.”

In April, accused murderer Jamal Gibson, aka “Eggy”, was found dead in his cell at the prison .

According to a source, the 25-year-old was reportedly discovered hanging from the bars of his cell, with a bed sheet wrapped around his neck.

Authorities have remained tight lipped over the incident but sources close to the matter have said police suspect suicide, although the official cause of death is not yet known.

Last October, convicted murderer Forrester Bowe was found dead in his prison cell.

An earlier statement from the prison said the 37-year-old, who took part in a notorious escape in 2006 that resulted in the death of a police officer, was “found in his cell unresponsive to roll call”.

Police sources close to the matter said no foul play was suspected in Bowe’s death, adding preliminary investigations revealed that Bowe was suspected to have died from a “heart related matter”.