Fight 'caused guard's heart attack'

A violent inmate caused a guard at Leicester Prison to die from heart attack, a court has heard.

Terry Jones collapsed and died after attempting to restrain prisoner Russell Cowens.

Mr Cowens had grabbed his visiting girlfriend around the throat and Mr Jones suffered a heart attack after trying to restrain him, the court heard.

Mr Cowens has denied a charge of manslaughter.

'Relationship over'

Mr Jones's heart attack was the result of the "stresses and strains" of the violent incident, a jury at Northampton Crown Court was told.

Trouble broke out when Mr Cowens received a visit from his girlfriend, Teresa Gunn, and their young son in August last year.

"It was always going to be a rather fraught visit because she had told him over the phone that she regarded the relationship as at an end," said prosecutor Gregory Dickinson QC.

They argued and Mr Cowens became angry as his girlfriend attempted to leave, it was alleged.

"He took hold of her with one hand around her neck and the other making a fist shape as though he was going to hit her," Mr Dickinson said.

"A prison officer quickly intervened and Cowens promptly turned his attention to the prison officer and pushed him very forcibly in the chest."

Sudden collapse

The struggle continued as a number of guards pulled Cowens into another room and handcuffed him, the court heard.

As they started to move him across the courtyard to the segregation unit Mr Jones, who was walking behind, suddenly collapsed.

He had suffered a massive heart attack and, despite attempts to resuscitate him, he died at the scene.

The trial continues.