Teen prisoner dies in cell
2008-03-10 16:24
Durban - A teenage awaiting-trial prisoner has been found dead in a Pietermaritzburg police cell, police said on Monday.
The 17-year-old was arrested in Durban on Friday for theft of a motor vehicle and taken to Pietermaritzburg where he was expected to appear in the local Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
His body was found during a cell count on Sunday night before the night shift handover, Superintendent Henry Budhram said.
He said the youth was found "hanging from the bar on the cell door" suspended from his trousers.
He was last visited at 15:30 on Sunday when he was reportedly "fine".
"An inquest into his death will be conducted," Budhram said.
- SAPA