Stewart was a “known racist”, Mubarek inquiry told

A probation officer who supervised Zahid Mubarek’s killer
Robert Stewart prior to the murder said he was a “known
racist,” at the inquiry into the Asian teenager’s
murder today, writes Maria Ahmed.

Joyce O’Mara met Stewart at Hindley Young Offender
Institution in Wigan on three different occasions between 1997 and
1999 before Stewart went on to kill Mubarek at Feltham YOI in March
2000.

In her statement to the public inquiry into Mubarek’s
death, O’Mara said: “Although there were no direct
racist comments made in my company, it was known in the prison that
he was racist.”

In December 1999, just months before the killing, O’Mara
said she recalled Stewart was not regarded as an “unusually
dangerous individual.”

Stephen Green, a probation officer who was Stewart’s
licence and combination order supervising officer between February
1997 and June 1998, is also giving evidence this week.

He described Stewart as “a very introverted young man, who
did not show any emotions and was guarded in interview”.

The inquiry is due to finish examining the evidence from
O’Mara and Green today.

Next week, three witnesses are to give evidence on allegations
that prison officers at Feltham YOI “deliberately”
placed black and white inmates in the same cells in a
Gladiator-style game.

Duncan Keys, general secretary of the Prison Officer’s
Association, Nigel Herring, chair of the Feltham branch POA, and
Tom Robson from the national executive committee of the POA are
scheduled to appear at the end of next week.

The inquiry continues.

 

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