An inquest is set to get underway into the death of a man who was murdered in his cell at HMP Nottingham. Brett Lowe, 43, was killed by his cell mate Ferencz-Rudolf Pusok on July 18, 2018, after being strangled by shoe laces and stabbed with a piece of plastic cutlery.
Pusok pleaded guilty to his cellmate's murder two years later in 2020 and was ordered to serve a minimum term of 20 years before he can apply for parole. Two years later an inquest into his death is set to begin, with a pre-inquest review taking place at the Council House in Nottingham on Monday, July 11.
Nottingham Crown Court was told in 2020 that Mr Lowe had asked to be moved from his cell and told a prison officer that Pusok had tried to strangle him as he slept. Mr Lowe had been remanded to the Sherwood jail in relation to allegations of burglary and robbery. Although a remand prisoner, rather than a serving prisoner, all prisoners go through the induction wing, the same wing where Pusok was housed.
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The court heard that there were plans to move Mr Lowe from the cell later that day but, after he was locked in the cell with Pusok at 9.30am, he was killed minutes later. It was at 10.15am that a drug worker went to the cell and saw Mr Lowe grievously injured, perhaps already dead. Efforts were made to save his life but it was too late, Nottingham Crown Court was told.
Pusok had been given a ten-week prison sentence for offences including criminal damage and threatening behaviour just days before the attack on July 18, 2018.
It was revealed in the pre-inquest review that one member of staff had been the subject of an internal disciplinary meeting and had subsequently been dismissed, subject to any potential appeal - at least one more disciplinary meeting is expected to take place at the prison, the inquest was told.
Assistant Coroner for Nottinghamshire Laurinda Bower was joined by representatives from the prison service, Mr Lowe's family, the healthcare service and Nottinghamshire Police at the hearing. CCTV is expected to be played at the inquest, as well as bodycam footage from police officers, when the inquest gets underway.
Mr Lowe’s family said in a statement after the court case two years ago: “The whole family has been left devastated by the murder of our beloved family member, Brett. Brett was a dad, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, cousin and a friend. Our father was denied the chance of meeting his first grandchild.
“He won’t be around to watch us grow or live his own life. Today’s sentencing has brought us all some closure and we can now finally move on with our lives.”
Detective Inspector Rachael North, who led the investigation, said: “This was horrific and violent attack which tragically ended Brett’s life. Brett was much loved by his family, who must now come to terms with losing him in this terrible way.
“The investigation team worked long and hard on this case to ensure that Pusok was held responsible for his cruel and callous actions. I’m glad that we were able to put him before the courts and I hope this will provide some comfort to Brett’s loved ones”.
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