Inmates at the Maximum Security Prison at Arouca have alleged a prisoner committed suicide yesterday after he was refused his medication. The inmate, identified as Richie Prachard, was discovered dead just before noon. According to an inmate who contacted the T&T Guardian yesterday, said Prachard hanged himself by tying a sheet to a metal bar just before noon.
The inmate, who claimed to witness his cellmate's suicide, said when other inmates rushed to assist Prachard, they were reportedly prevented by prisons officers. The inmate claimed Prachard was then cut down and placed on a bed in the cell.
"Since weekend the man bawling and screaming for his medicine and he cannot get it," the inmate said. He also claimed since the July 11 murder of prisons officer Eric Simmons, inmates were denied basic rights, like mandatory airing time and also have been deprived of medication. Contacted yesterday, a prisons officer denied these claims, saying all inmates were being treated equally.
