New evidence about Gladiator claims emerges

New evidence on allegations that young offender Zahid Mubarek was deliberately placed by staff in a cell with his racist killer Robert Stewart as part of a ‘Gladiator’ game has been given to the inquiry into Mubarek’s death, Community Care has learned.

The evidence has been submitted by Nigel Herring, chair of the Prison Officers Association’s Feltham Young Offender Institution branch, who was accused during inquiry hearings of instigating the ‘Gladiator’ practice. Herring denied the claim.

This week, an inquiry spokesperson confirmed it had received further “relevant” evidence about the ‘Gladiator’ allegations and said this was being sent to Mubarek’s family.

The evidence is expected to be made public before the inquiry chair, Justice Keith, gives his report to the home secretary next year.

The inquiry into how Mubarek, 19, came to be murdered by Stewart, then also 19, at Feltham YOI in 2000, ended in October.