A pre-inquest review has opened into the death of a prisoner at Strangeways who may have died after taking spice. Jamie Tate, 33, was an inmate at the category A prison when he was found dead on March 14 of last year.
At a brief hearing at Manchester Coroner's Court today (October 3), assistant coroner Andrew Bridgeman said that Mr Tate's cause of death was currently "unascertained and possibly drug-related". READ MORE: Murder investigation launched after man found dead in house in Rochdale The hearing was told that at the time of Mr Tate's death, prisoners at Strangeways "were in their cells for probably 23 hours of the 24" each day.
Mr Bridgeman added: "That's an issue that is pertient to a death from spice, if that's the case." Members of Mr Tate's family attended the brief hearing via video link.
As Ms Tate's death is believed to have been unnatural, the coroner said a full inquest is necessary. He formally adjourned proceedings until next year when the hearing is set to take place.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk