Prisoner custody officer dies after being beaten by a prisoner
The custody officer was seriously assaulted by a male prisoner, her devastated family are demanding answers from her employer
Blackfriars Crown Court in London Photo: PA
By Agency
1:13PM BST 02 Jul 2015
The devastated family of a court guard who died earlier on Thursday after being brutally beaten by a prisoner today demanded answers from her employer.
They had to make the agonising decision to switch off 54-year-old Lorraine Barwell's life support machine after doctors told them there was nothing more they could do for her.
The grandmother-of-two was left in a coma after being battered by a prisoner she was escorting at Blackfriars Crown Court in south London on Monday lunchtime.
Mrs Barwell, from Romford, east London, had worked in the court system for Serco for 10 years.
Now her family are demanding answers to how such a horrific tragedy could happen.
Her son Jason, 34, also from Romford, said: "She didn't die at work - she was murdered.
"We had to switch off the machine this morning. The time of death was 2.49am.
"Serco have questions to answer. I want to know how this happened and why it was allowed to happen. We haven't heard anything from them.
"There were two staff she works with every day and they were in bits at the hospital.
"The family are in shock and just devastated. She just went to work Monday morning and didn't come home at the end of the day."
He added: "Something needs to be done for the staff to help to protect them because it could be someone else's mum or dad next week.
"It's just not right. I want answers and I'm angry.
"I don't know how she was put in this situation, I know she signed up for this job, but as employers there should be some sort of risk assessment.
"I think something should be done by the company to protect their staff. Someone's got be accountable for this.
"I first heard when my sister phoned me on Monday and she was in hysterics. At first I didn't even know who it was you know she was screaming, and crying.
"I drove us both to the Royal London Hospital. She had been taken by air ambulance there.
"When we got there, people with her at the hospital were in bits. Everyone tried their hardest, you know.
"He was someone who is known for his aggression. Surely you get some big guy to stand by him. How could you send her in? she was about 5ft.
"She enjoyed her job, she thought she was helping people. She was down to earth and she was known for calming a situation down.
"He wasn't going to escape from a court or anything, so why would you do that to someone?"
Law school dropout Humphrey Burke, 22, appeared beofre magistrates on Wednesday accused off assuatling Mrs Barwell. He did not enter a plea to a charge of GBH.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said that end of life has not been yet been officially pronounced.
Kevin Hagan, Serco’s contract director, said: "One of our employees is in a critical condition after she was seriously assaulted on 29 June by a male prisoner at Blackfriars Crown Court.
"Our thoughts are with her and her family at this time. We take a zero tolerance approach to violence against staff and we always press for the most serious charge to be laid against those responsible."
