A TRIAL date has been fixed for a prison officer charged over the death of a prisoner.

Paul Smith, from Birchwood, is accused of manslaughter by gross negligence after the death at HMP Rye Hill near Rugby in March last year.

The 39-year-old, from Barham Court, has a provisional trial date set for February 22 at Northamptonshire Crown Court.

A plea and directions hearing has been set for December 1.

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.

Three of the four prison officers have left the company and one is suspended pending the outcome of the court case.