Inquiry into Mubarek’s death will investigate fighting claims

Claims that prison officers at Feltham Young Offender Institution
set up “Gladiator-style” fights between black and white
inmates will be investigated in a public inquiry into the murder of
an Asian young offender by his racist cellmate, writes
Maria Ahmed. 

Comments found in Stewart’s cell

Four new witnesses will be questioned at the inquiry into Zahid
Mubarek’s death in Feltham YOI, which begins this week. The
step could lead to calls for charges to be brought when the inquiry
makes its final report.

An inquiry spokesperson said: “These allegations are so
serious that Mr Justice Keith (the inquiry chair) feels his
independent inquiry is duty-bound to investigate them – even
though the police investigation has been concluded with no charges
being brought.”

Mubarek, 19, was bludgeoned to death by Robert Stewart in March
2000. Four months before Mubarek’s death, Stewart, now 24,
was identified as suffering from a “deep-seated”
personality disorder.

Stewart was also known to have been involved in events leading
to another inmate’s murder by another prisoner at a different
YOI.

The inquiry, which is expected to last until March, will hear
evidence from more than 100 witnesses, including past and present
Feltham staff.