Prisoner

• De aanklager stelt dat Rico Gedel Ian Watkins aanviel in HMP Wakefield en vervolgens een zelfgemaakt mes overhandigde aan Samuel Dodsworth • Een gevangene die beschuldigd wordt van de moord op de gevallen voormalige Lostprophets-zanger zei tegen bewakers dat ze "misschien wel met iemand beroemds zouden kunnen praten" nadat hij Ian Watkins met een zelfgemaakt mes in het hoofd en de nek had gestoken, aldus de rechtbank. • Rico Gedel, ook bekend als Rashid Gedel, voerde de aanval uit op Watkins, die een straf van 29 jaar uitzat voor seksuele misdrijven met kinderen, in zijn cel in HMP Wakefield, een maximaal beveiligde gevangenis, op 11 oktober, klonk het in de Leeds crown court.

• Families staan onder druk om te zwijgen te midden van een internetblack-out, terwijl het aantal executies naar verluidt sterk stijgt, met 24 doden in maart. • Iran voert bijna dagelijks geheime executies van gevangenen uit en weigert in sommige gevallen de lichamen van de overledenen aan hun families te overhandigen, aldus mensenrechtenorganisaties en bronnen dicht bij de familieleden. • Veel families vernemen pas van de executies nadat deze hebben plaatsgevonden; sommigen worden lastiggevallen en onder druk gezet om niet publiekelijk te spreken over de persoonlijke impact van de staatseffectueringen, zo melden de bronnen.

• Cuba announced the release of 2,010 prisoners on April 4 following intense US pressure linked to the island's worsening energy crisis. • Gesture aims to ease bilateral tensions as Trump administration leverages geopolitical leverage. • Amid blackouts and shortages, release signals Havana's bid for concessions or sanctions relief.

Havana calls releases a humanitarian Holy Week gesture as Russian tankers allowed to reach oil-starved islandCuba has announced plans to pardon 2,010 prisoners as a “humanitarian” gesture during Holy Week, amid heightened US pressure on the government in Havana.The announcement on Thursday came days after Donald Trump eased a de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude oil to the nation. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Greens MLC Sue Higginson tells parliament that Corrective Services knew things ‘which made it very clear they had monitored our conversation’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA New South Wales parliamentarian has alleged prison officers unlawfully listened to her calls with inmates and then threatened those who had sought her help.The Greens’ justice spokesperson, Sue Higginson, alleged that her phone calls were “routinely” monitored despite it being against the law for corrective services officers to listen to calls between parliamentarians and prisoners. Continue reading...

Legislation initiated by far-right Otzma Yehudit party drew mounting criticism from opponents and rights groups as it moved through the KnessetIsrael’s parliament has advanced a contentious bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of terrorism to its final vote, after the Knesset’s national security committee approved the measure on Tuesday.The legislation, initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by National Security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who warn it would mark a significant escalation in Israel’s penal policy. Members of Otzma Yehudit have worn noose-shaped pins in support of the bill. Continue reading...

About a quarter of prison places are unsafe, Ministry of Justice admitsThe government has reneged on a pledge to make all prison cells fire-safe or take them out of use by the end of next year, meaning tens of thousands of prisoners in England and Wales will remain at risk.The Ministry of Justice has admitted it has known for almost two decades that about a quarter of prison places are unsafe, putting the people housed in affected cells at risk. Continue reading...