The Case of Matthew Raveneau

Matthew Raveneau took his own life on the 26th or 27th November 2002, four days after being released on bail from Belmarsh Prison.

The deceased's mental health had deteriorated during 2002 and in October 2002 he held his children hostage in their home in an effort to get himself shot by police snipers. He did not threaten the children and they were released unharmed. He was prosecuted for false imprisonment and during this period his partner made several requests for him to be given help for his mental health problems.

He was remanded into custody at HMP Belmarsh on 12th November 2002. The Prisoner Escort Record identified him as being at risk of suicide or self harm. However, the nurse and doctor whom he saw in Reception at Belmarsh did not pick up on this and he was recorded as having "no particular medical concerns".

As a result of a bail application the deceased was released to his family (although not to his partner and children). It was at his sister's house that he was found hanging on 27th November 2002.

The Inquest

HM Coroner, Selina Lynch listed the Inquest for October 2003. However, at this hearing the family raised a number of concerns about the actions of public authorities in failing to treat the deceased's mental health problems. The Coroner therefore adjourned the Inquest on the basis that a Pre-Inquest Hearing would decide the issue of whether Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights applied to the Inquest.

Article 2 provides that "Everyone's right to life shall be protected by lawÖ" Member states are required not merely to refrain from taking life intentionally but also to take reasonable measures to safeguard life1. A person in custody is in a vulnerable position and the way in which he or she is treated must be subject to strict scrutiny under the Convention.2 There have been various cases showing that the State has been in breach of its duty to protect life where inadequate measures were taken to prevent death where it should have been apparent that a prisoner was suicidal.3

Despite the fact that Mr Raveneau did not die in custody, at the Pre Inquest Hearing in June 2004, the Coroner ruled that indeed the death did come under the scope of Article 2 following the House of Lords decision in Middleton4. Although she decided that the actions of the police could not be criticised, she decided that the actions of the prison were relevant. She gave two reasons for coming to the conclusion that it was an Article...

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