Razor used to cut cell mate’s neck, Court told

Press, 5 April 1989, Page 29

Razor used to cut cell mate’s neck, Court told

A prison inmate was alleged in the District Court yesterday to have burnt part of the plastic head away from a prisonissued razor, to expose more of the blade, and to have cut the side of his cell-mate’s neck with it.

Evidence to this effect was heard in the District Court yesterday at the trial, before Judge Fraser and a jury, of Michael Shane Lihou, aged 20.

Lihou has denied a charge of injuring Des-

mond Russell Gray, aged 28, with intent, in the cell they had shared at Addington Prison, in the early morning of May 26.

The defence contends that Mr Gray, who had cut himself with a razor blade three days before to attract attention and get out of prison, had cut himself with the razor in the cell he shared with Lihou. :He had then pressed the cell alarm and complained that Lihou injured him.

Prosecution evidence was the incident occurred the morning after Mr Gray had been placed in the cell with Lihou, and that Lihou had been angry because he could not sleep as the cell light was left on through the night.

Prosecution and defence evidence was completed yesterday. The jury will retire to consider its verdict today, after hearing counsel’s final addresses, and the Judge’s summing up.