Prison officer denies Gladiator-style practice at Feltham

A prison officer at Feltham Young Offender Institution today
said she would be disgusted at the practice of deliberately placing
unsuitable prisoners together in a cell after she was accused of
placing a prisoner in “grave danger” by putting him in
a cell with Robert Stewart, writes Clare
Jerrom.

Speaking at the inquiry into the death of Zahid Mubarek, Julie
Goodman said she would feel “disgust” at the practice
of placing unsuitable prisoners together in cells and denied ever
having participated in such ‘Gladiator-style’
practice.

Goodman was accused of abandoning “common sense” by
the Mubarek family barrister when she placed another Asian cellmate
in a cell with Robert Stewart two months before he went on to kill
Mubarek in the cell they shared in March 2000.

She had been warned that Stewart was dangerous and there was
space in at least two other cells for the prisoner.

The inquiry continues.