Coroner suspends inquest into Stephen O’Donnell Risley prison murder

Stephen O’Donnell died after being stabbed in the chest in the E-wing of HMP Risley on January 22, 2019, aged just 33.

Cheshire Police confirmed that a man suffered serious injuries during an assault in the prison and was rushed to Warrington Hospital before being pronounced dead shortly after 7.45pm.

A then-23-year-old man was arrested following the incident, and he was later charged with Mr O’Donnell’s murder.

Prolific burglar Adrisse Gray was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years in August 2019 after admitting murdering Mr O’Donnell in a row over a DVD player.

The defendant used an ‘improvised weapon’ to fatally stab the father-of-four, before trying to hide the weapon in a shower drain.

Warrington Coroner’s Court on Wednesday heard a statement from a coroner officer confirming Mr O’Donnell died aged 33 at an address on Warrington Road in Risley, namely HM Prison Risley.

The death was referred to coroner services the following day.

Adrisse Gray was jailed for life at Liverpool Crown Court

A suspension was requested by the coroner officer for further evidence to be received to decide whether to resume inquest proceedings.

This is in the form of a report to be prepared by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

This was granted by Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, who said: “Criminal proceedings have now concluded after being underway.

“I am going to further suspend the inquest to review Prisons and Probation Ombudsman evidence on June 6.”

Tributes were paid to Mr O’Donnell in the days following his death.

In a statement, his family said: “Our hearts are broken at the loss of our beloved Stephen – he was a lovely man who was adored by his family and friends.

“He did not deserve to be taken from us in this way, but nobody can take away the memories that we have of him which we will always treasure.”