Prison service slammed over 'vampire' stab killer's suicide
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY
THE prison service has been criticised over the death of "vampire" killer Alan Menzies, who hanged himself in his cell.
The 23-year-old, from Fauldhouse in West Lothian, died inside Shotts Prison in November, 2004, while serving a life sentence.
He had been jailed the previous year for murdering his best friend, drinking his blood and eating part of his head.
A fatal accident inquiry released today by Sheriff Vincent Smith found that a number of failings by the Scottish Prison Service may have contributed to the death.
Among the sheriff's findings were that prison staff failed to check that a razor passed to Menzies was returned to them.
It also found that suicide risk management strategies were not adequately put in place when Menzies was moved to the segregation unit.
The prison authority also failed to obtain records from the deceased's GP, and failed to interview his parents to get a full history of the youngster, who had a tendency for self-harm.
When he was transferred to the segregation unit, staff did not know who the case manager for Menzies would be.
And the assessment of Menzies on being admitted to the segregation unit was not as thorough as it should have been, according to the Sheriff.
Menzies was arrested on January 20, 2003, and charged with the murder of his friend, Thomas McKendrick.
He was convicted of the murder on October 8, 2003, at the High Court and sentenced to life imprisonment. The punishment period was set at 18 years.
On the day of his conviction he was taken from the High Court to HM Prison, Saughton and one month later was transferred to HM Prison, Shotts where he was placed within the National Induction Centre.
On November 9, 2004, he was transferred to the segregation unit at Shotts, where he was found hanged by the neck only six days later.
A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said they were still considering the full findings of the inquiry.
He said: "The SPS are now in receipt of the determination and are considering the contents.
"The SPS recognise that any death in our custody is a very traumatic and deeply upsetting event for all concerned, not least for the family.
"The SPS Act 2 Care strategy was launched in September, 2005.
"The aim of the strategy is to assume a shared responsibility for the care of those 'at risk' of self-harm or suicide in providing a person-centred caring environment based on individual assessed need where prisoners who are in distress can ask for help to avert a crisis.
"The SPS particularly wishes to encourage improved family involvement in the care of those identified at risk as SPS moves forward towards an improved person-centred care approach.
"Our thoughts are with the family at this time."
At the time of the High Court case, it was found that Menzies had bludgeoned Thomas McKendrick to death after a row over a horror film.
The judge branded him an "evil and dangerous psychopath", and recommended that he serve at least 18 years in prison.
Menzies, a former security guard, had claimed he was ordered by a vampire character from the horror film Queen of the Damned to kill Mr McKendrick, also from Fauldhouse.
The High Court had heard that Menzies believed the main character - a female vampire called Akasha - used to visit his bedroom and the pair had struck a deal in which he would achieve immortality if he killed people.
He snapped when his 21-year-old friend insulted the vampire - played by late US singer Aaliyah - and battered him with a hammer and repeatedly stabbed him to death.
Source: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=384262006
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