Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

“…would have taken someone far more skilful than I and…staff in the segregation unit to
pierce. The point is that I had only met him twice; the staff in the seg unit had only met
him that day. I don’t think staff on G wing knew him all that well, he kept his head down.”
11.48 At the inquest, Mr Johnson said he was familiar with the F2052SH procedure.
Given his knowledge of Mr Lodge’s history, he was concerned that he was in a single
cell but from all his knowledge he was safe to be left there.
11.49 Mr Johnson told the inquiry that he believed that it was only after Mr Lodge’s
death that he knew that Ms A had told Ms Lorimer she was concerned Mr Lodge might
harm himself. His understanding was that Ms A was worried about Mr Lodge because he
had been in difficulties with prison officers and was worried he might be moved to
Liverpool which had a reputation among prisoners at the time as an intimidating prison
and where he was afraid he might be bullied because of the Risley incident.
11.50 Mr Johnson said that warning signs of suicidal intent might be when someone
seemed detached, flat, not looking forward, unwilling to engage. By contrast, Mr Lodge
was talking rationally about what would happen in the coming days. He took the initiative
to ask about mass on Sunday and he asked for books. He was looking forward to his
girlfriend’s visit and what was going to happen in future. He still had some life and spark
about him. In addition, Mr Johnson had confidence in the unit staff.
Sonny Lodge’s death
11.51 An officer recalled later that Sonny had been sitting normally in his cell when he
did the roll check at about 4.40 pm. The evening meal was usually served from about 6
pm. Prisoners in the segregation unit were unlocked one at a time to collect their meal.
On 28 August the meal was delayed by 15 to 20 minutes because of the death of a
prisoner on A wing. At about 6.20 pm an officer opened Sonny’s cell to find him slumped
against the pipes under the window with a ligature made of bed sheets around the
widow bars and his neck. The officer called for assistance. The senior officer brought
scissors from the office on the floor below and cut the ligature while two officers
supported Sonny’s weight.
11.52 A health care officer and a nurse responded to the emergency call and attended
the cell with equipment. They attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and requested
the doctor and a 999 ambulance. The prison medical officer came from the reception
area at 1842. He pronounced Sonny Lodge dead at 1845.
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