Jamal Mahmoud's was fatally stabbed while an inmate at Pentonville Prison.
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Knives were being “thrown over” the wall of HMP Pentonville for up to two weeks prior to the stabbing of an inmate.
Jamal Mahmoud was killed in 2016 after being fatally stabbed in the Islington prison.
Now an inquest into the murder has found that knives and other contraband were commonplace in the jail at the time of the death.
The inquest is expected to end tomorrow.
It seeks to understand how this lapse in prison safety was allowed to happen.
The former Deputy Governor of HMP Pentonville, Dean Gardiner, said at Wood Green Crown Court: “Knives in the prison were nothing out of the ordinary”.
On the day of Mr Mahmoud’s death, prison officers were aware of two knives in circulation at Pentonville.
In 2016 HMP Pentonville was identified in an annual inspection as having “acute staff shortages” and security lapses.
Her Majesty’s Crown Coroner, sitting at Wood Green Crown Court, is now receiving evidence to understand why senior staff at the prison didn’t do more to counter the spread of contraband such as knives.
Dean Gardiner told the court that he believes it was able to happen because of a shortage in staff and funding.
He said: “A total lock-down of the prison wouldn’t have been viable because of a lack of resources.”
The inquest is not attempting to work out who was behind the actual stabbing.
Three inmates were cleared of killing Jamal Mahmoud in a December 2017 trial.
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HeadlineKnives were ‘commonplace’ at time of Pentonville inmate murder
Short HeadlineKnives "thrown over" prison wall used in murder
StandfirstThe inquest into Jamal Mahmoud's stabbing seeks to address the security lapses at the prison at the time of his death.
Knives were being “thrown over” the wall of HMP Pentonville for up to two weeks prior to the stabbing of an inmate.
Jamal Mahmoud was killed in 2016 after being fatally stabbed in the Islington prison.
Now an inquest into the murder has found that knives and other contraband were commonplace in the jail at the time of the death.
The inquest is expected to end tomorrow.
It seeks to understand how this lapse in prison safety was allowed to happen.
The former Deputy Governor of HMP Pentonville, Dean Gardiner, said at Wood Green Crown Court: “Knives in the prison were nothing out of the ordinary”.
On the day of Mr Mahmoud’s death, prison officers were aware of two knives in circulation at Pentonville.
In 2016 HMP Pentonville was identified in an annual inspection as having “acute staff shortages” and security lapses.
Her Majesty’s Crown Coroner, sitting at Wood Green Crown Court, is now receiving evidence to understand why senior staff at the prison didn’t do more to counter the spread of contraband such as knives.
Dean Gardiner told the court that he believes it was able to happen because of a shortage in staff and funding.
He said: “A total lock-down of the prison wouldn’t have been viable because of a lack of resources.”
The inquest is not attempting to work out who was behind the actual stabbing.
Three inmates were cleared of killing Jamal Mahmoud in a December 2017 trial.
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