THE jury at the inquest into the death of a mentally unwell inmate at Chelmsford Prison are expected to deliver their verdict today.

Dean Saunders, 25, died at HMP Chelmsford, Essex, in January 2016.

The father-of-one from Basildon was arrested after stabbing his father and brother, before attempting to turn a knife on himself.

Caroline Beasley-Murray, senior coroner for Essex, set out 24 questions for the jury to answer, before summarising the case.

Among those questions are whether it was appropriate for Mr Saunders to be sent to prison, whether hospital beds were available, and if there was adequate clinical leadership in the prison wing.

The jury must also answer whether the decision to reduce observation was appropriate, and if that decision was “based on financial considerations, either in part or in whole.”

Over the two weeks of the inquest, the jury heard from police officers, prison staff, healthcare professionals and prisoner governor Steve Rodford.

Giving evidence earlier this week, Dr Sarah Bromley, director of Care UK, which runs healthcare in the prison, said Mr Saunders was “clearly unwell” and “should not have been in the prison.”

She was also “apprehensive” knowing there had been complaints about the prison’s head of healthcare, Amanda De La Bruyere, who removed Mr Saunders from suicide watch.

The inquest also heard how Lynne Johnson mental health worker, “couldn’t recall” handing over critical information to psychiatrists at Basildon Police Station, after his arrest.

It also heard Mr Saunders did not speak to his family while in jail, because, according to Mr Rodford, the person in charge of the phone system was off duty.

Guards found Mr Saunders electrocuted and non-responsive in his cell at HMP Chelmsford Prison, after he was taken off 24-hour constant watch, despite various requests to have electrical equipment removed from his cell.

He was on remand in the Springfield Road jail to await trial for attempted murder.

Caroline Beasley-Murray told the jury: “You are the judge in this.”