International Law

Transsexual takes life in prison

By John Hirst

"An inquest jury has returned a verdict of suicide after a bullied transsexual prisoner hanged herself.

Lisa Woodhall, 28, was discovered at Eastwood Park women's prison, South Gloucestershire, having told a friend of her torment by other inmates.

Ms Woodhall, born Paul Hayes in Taunton, Somerset, left a note claiming she had been "murdered by ignorance and lack of appropriate care and help".

The jury found the balance of her mind was disturbed before her death in 2006".

It may be that nothing could have prevented her from taking her own life. However, given her own high risk assessment for suicide, and the frequency of cell checks upon her, I cannot help but wonder how her care manager rated her as a low suicide risk? "Ms Woodhall's care manager, Andrew Gibbs, said she had rated herself as seven out 10 on a "wish to die" scale, three days before her death.

But he said he was happy with her progress and found she was not a high suicide risk. Staff checked her cell three times an hour".

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on April 12, 2008 (boomark / email).