Inmate at Fylde coast prison found dead in suspicious circumstances, jury inquest to follow
A jury inquest is to take place later this year into the death of a prisoner found dead in his cell at HMP Kirkham.
The body of Jason Stevens, 53, was discovered at the prison in Freckleton Road in October 2024.
Assistant coroner Andrew Cousins confirmed at a review hearing held at Blackpool Town Hall that the inquest was likely to take at least three days and that the verdict would be decided by a jury.
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Inquests requiring a jury include those where the coroner has reason to suspect that the deceased died a violent or unnatural death in custody or state detention or the death resulted from an act or omission of a police officer or member of a service police force in the purported execution of their duty.
Mr Cousins asked for the necessary documentary submissions from the prison service and the health authority to be with him by May 8 and said that the inquest was likely to take place in September or October, with the jury likely to be empanelled for five days.