A TRIAL starts today, Thursday, of a Birchwood prison officer charged with the manslaughter of a prisoner.
Paul Smith, aged 39, from Barham Court, is accused of manslaughter by gross negligence after the death at HMP Rye Hill, near Rugby, in March 2005. The case will be heard at Northampton Crown Court.
Mr Smith was charged following the death of Michael Bailey, a 23-year-old from Birmingham, a convicted drug dealer who had been moved to the vulnerable prisoners unit.
Three other prison officers have been charged with various offences, including manslaughter by gross negligence and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
HMP Rye Hill is a Private Finance Initiative prison run by GSL.
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