Prisoner 'killed by racist cellmate'

Zahid Mubarak died just hours before his release

A prisoner who allegedly bludgeoned to death his Asian cellmate was "unnervingly calm" after the attack, a court has been told.

Robert Stewart, 20, is accused of battering Zahid Mubarak around the head with a table leg at Feltham Young Offenders Institution in west London.

Mr Mubarak, 19, of Walthamstow, east London, was attacked just hours before he was due to be released after a 90-day sentence for dishonesty. He died a week later.

It was almost as if nothing had happened

Principal officer Graham Davies

Mr Stewart, of Costabadie Close, Hattersley, Greater Manchester, denies murdering his cellmate on 21 March this year.

The prosecution claims Mr Stewart carried out the attack out of frustration at his incarceration, racial hatred and envy of his cellmate's imminent release.

Prison officers called to the men's cell after the incident found Mr Stewart was "calm and compliant", Kingston Crown Court was told.

Prison officer Satwant Randhawa told the jury: "He seemed like he was in a world of his own."

Mrs Randhawa, who was trying to reassure Mr Mubarak who had suffered massive head injuries, said Stewart looked straight through her.

'Racist graffiti'

Principal officer Graham Davies told the court he was "astounded" by Mr Stewart's subdued reaction.

Mr Davies organised Mr Stewart's segregation in another cell to await the police.

"There was no need to restrain him, there was no sign of any aggression," he told the court.

"Considering the incident which had just occurred I was very surprised to find Mr Stewart was very calm and compliant.

"It was almost as if nothing had happened."

Mr Davies said a prison officer asked Mr Stewart why he did it and he said: "I just did it".

The court earlier heard that Stewart, who was on remand, had written seven racist letters to friends that day and scratched racist graffiti on his cell wall.