Murdered warder kept gangs under control, court told

[caption id="attachment_34206" align="alignright" width="100"] EGON OSWALD[/caption]

A WARDER stabbed to death at St Albans Prison in July 2005 – allegedly sparking a mass assault on inmates – had acted as the go-between for gang and non-gang members, the court heard yesterday.

Because of Babini Nqakula's positive influence, gang activity at the St Albans maximum security section was dormant in early 2005.

But in July that year he was killed by a prisoner, and all hell broke loose.

At least 231 prisoners claim that warders brutally tortured them for several days as a result of the murder. Some inmates said they were assaulted with batons and shock shields, while others claimed they were chained up and had guard dogs set on them. - Kathryn Kimberley