Lees Lloyd Whitley Solicitors

The Zahid Mubarek Inquiry

“On Thursday 29.4.2004 Mr. David Blunkett (Home Secretary) announced the establishment of a non-statutory Public Inquiry into the murder of Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offenders Institution on Tuesday 21.3.2000.

Terms of Reference
In the light of the House of Lords Judgment in the case of R –v- Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Amin, to investigate and report to the Home Secretary on the death of Zahid Mubarek, and the events leading up to the attack on him, and make recommendations about the prevention of such attacks in the future, taking into account the investigations that have already taken place – in particular, those by the Prison Service and the Commission for Racial Equality.
The Prison Officers Association is represented by a Team of two Counsel led by Barry Cotter from Old Square Chambers. Barry has represented the Association and its Members in many high profile cases including:

• The Woolff Inquiry into the Disturbances at HMP Manchester;
• Inquests – two major cases originating from HMP Dartmoor and HMP Belmarsh dealing, amongst other things with the issue of positional asphyxia;
• The Inquiry into Ashworth Hospital chaired by Sir Louis Blom Cooper;
• The Moss Side Litigation – Group Litigation by Patients;

Further background information on Barry Cotter and Ben Cooper (Junior Counsel) can be found on the Old Square Chambers Website – see Links Section on this site. Tony Marriot, Keith Shepherd and Jennifer Coakley-Harding, from Lees Lloyd Whitley are the other key Members of the Team providing representation for those involved in this Inquiry. The Inquiry is chaired by Mr. Justice Keith. It is not a Statutory Inquiry which means that the Chairman cannot compel the attendance or participation of Witnesses. However, Mr. Justice Keith has made it clear that if he feels there is a lack of co-operation on the part of any Interested Party which puts the effectiveness of the Inquiry at risk he will consider asking the Home Secretary to grant him statutory powers.

Members of the Public are “encouraged to attend”. The Inquiry began sitting on 18.11.2004 at Court 80, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP. The Inquiry sits from 10 am – 4.15 pm each day and will sit until 22.12.2004 before resuming sittings in 2005.

No date has been given for the completion of the Report which will be submitted to the Home Secretary when it has been finalized.


			The Zahid Mubarek Inquiry “On Thursday 29.4.2004 Mr. David Blunkett (Home Secretary) announced the establishment of a non-statutory Public Inquiry into the murder of Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offenders Institution on Tuesday 21.3.2000. Terms of Reference In the light of the House of Lords Judgment in the case of R –v- Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Amin, to investigate and report to the Home Secretary on the death of Zahid Mubarek, and the events leading up to the attack on him, and make recommendations about the prevention of such attacks in the future, taking into account the investigations that have already taken place – in particular, those by the Prison Service and the Commission for Racial Equality. The Prison Officers Association is represented by a Team of two Counsel led by Barry Cotter from Old Square Chambers. Barry has represented the Association and its Members in many high profile cases including: • The Woolff Inquiry into the Disturbances at HMP Manchester; • Inquests – two major cases originating from HMP Dartmoor and HMP Belmarsh dealing, amongst other things with the issue of positional asphyxia; • The Inquiry into Ashworth Hospital chaired by Sir Louis Blom Cooper; • The Moss Side Litigation – Group Litigation by Patients; Further background information on Barry Cotter and Ben Cooper (Junior Counsel) can be found on the Old Square Chambers Website – see Links Section on this site. Tony Marriot, Keith Shepherd and Jennifer Coakley-Harding, from Lees Lloyd Whitley are the other key Members of the Team providing representation for those involved in this Inquiry. The Inquiry is chaired by Mr. Justice Keith. It is not a Statutory Inquiry which means that the Chairman cannot compel the attendance or participation of Witnesses. However, Mr. Justice Keith has made it clear that if he feels there is a lack of co-operation on the part of any Interested Party which puts the effectiveness of the Inquiry at risk he will consider asking the Home Secretary to grant him statutory powers. Members of the Public are “encouraged to attend”. The Inquiry began sitting on 18.11.2004 at Court 80, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP. The Inquiry sits from 10 am – 4.15 pm each day and will sit until 22.12.2004 before resuming sittings in 2005. No date has been given for the completion of the Report which will be submitted to the Home Secretary when it has been finalized.
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