Dead son let down by the system.Byline: By Sonia Sharma A distraught mother told an inquest inquest, in law, a body of men appointed by law to inquire into certain matters. The term also refers to the inquiry itself as well as to the findings of the inquiry. into her son's prison death she felt let down by the system. Morris Cowen, 30, was found hanging from sink taps in his cell at Durham Prison, in December 2003. Cowen was in the segregation wing after allegedly killing his father, Douglas, at the home they shared in Hambleton Street, Blyth. His mum, Catherine Todd, told a jury at Chester-le-Street Coroner's Court yesterday that her son had been allowed to fall through the net. She said: "I was married to his dad for six years. For a great amount of time he was a very violent man who turned his anger and violence towards his own son at times. "I managed to leave him and make a new life for myself and my children. When Morris was 16 he joined the Army and came out at 20 feeling it was not what he expected. "He started looking for his father who he had not had contact with since he was a boy. He got in with the wrong kind of people and started dabbling in drugs. "I did everything I could to help him. He eventually ended up staying with his dad. "When police came to me and told me of the assault I was very upset and told them that if his dad died of his injuries, my son would commit suicide Verb 1. commit suicide - kill oneself; "the terminally ill patient committed suicide" kill - cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly; "This man killed several people when he tried to rob a bank"; "The farmer killed a pig for the holidays" . "Police told me not to worry and said he would be put on suicide watch suicide watch n. A procedural tour of duty in a prison in which guards frequently check the cells of inmates suspected of suicidal tendencies. . "For the first time in 10 years I felt my son was safe. Then police came and told me he was dead. I felt the system had let him down and he has been allowed to fall through the net. "He was such that he would make everyone laugh. He was larger than life larg·er than life adj. Very impressive or imposing: "This is a person of surpassing integrity; a man of the utmost sincerity; somewhat larger than life" Joyce Carol Oates. and I will miss him to the day I die." Cowen's 53-year-old father was found with horrific injuries in October 2003. He died in hospital three days later. Cowen was originally on remand To send back. A higher court may remand a case to a lower court so that the lower court will take a certain action ordered by the higher court. A prisoner who is remanded into custody is sent back to prison subsequent to a Preliminary Hearing before a tribunal or magistrate charged with wounding with intent but was later charged with his father's murder. Police say there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Cowen's death and there was nothing to suggest any third party involvement. The jury retired yesterday to consider its verdict and is expected to return today. |
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