Prisoners die in 'suicide pact'

Two prisoners sharing a cell died in an apparent suicide pact today.

Shaun Hazelhurst, 26, and Patrick Kilty, 32, both from Yorkshire, were found dead by prison staff at HMP Manchester at about 7am, said a Home Office spokeswoman.

Hazelhurst, who was serving a four-year sentence for robbery, was jailed at Manchester Crown Court last Friday.

Kilty was serving a life term for robbery after being sentenced at Leeds Crown Court in December last year.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We can confirm Shaun Hazelhurst and Patrick Kilty were found hanging from ligatures by staff at around 7am this morning at HMP Manchester.

“They were pronounced dead by medical staff just after 7am.

“As with all deaths in custody there will be an investigation by the Prison Ombudsman, Stephen Shaw.”

The pair shared a prison cell and neither was on suicide watch, the Home Office spokeswoman added.

The relatives of the two men have been informed of the deaths and a post-mortem examination will be carried out shortly.

The spokeswoman said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances in relation to the deaths.

It is not thought that a suicide note was found with the bodies and police and prison authorities were investigating whether the deaths were part of a suicide pact.