HMP Thameside Horror: Kind Prisoner Beaten to Death by Cellmate
A tragic death rocked HMP Thameside when Quang Nguyen, a “calm, gentle, and kind” inmate, was savagely attacked by his cellmate Roland Viarode. Nguyen suffered 50 blunt force injuries and was found lifeless in his bed on February 7 last year.
Cellmate With Schizophrenia Gets Indefinite Hospital Order
Viarode admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Experts confirmed he was schizophrenic during the assault. Woolwich Crown Court handed down an indefinite hospital order with a Section 41 restriction, meaning Viarode can only leave secure detention with Justice Secretary approval.
Prison Failures Under Investigation
Questions swirl over why two “troubled” prisoners were housed together. Staff ignored cell alarms ringing multiple times overnight, performing only cursory checks, with one officer faintly glancing at the cell and asking for the time. An internal inquiry is ongoing into the failings that led to Nguyen’s death.
Family Mourns Lost Son
Originally from Vietnam, Nguyen moved to the UK in 2015 to support his family. His devastated parents revealed how the pandemic deepened his isolation and depression. They said in a heartbreaking statement:
“My son’s death has left my family devastated and in turmoil, both mental and physical. The wound in our family’s heart is so great… My son, in the last moments of his life, had no one by his side and passed away alone, surely very desperate.”
Deadly Night in Prison Cell
- Viarode became Nguyen’s cellmate on February 1 after his previous cellmate complained about Viarode’s self-neglect.
- Fellow prisoners described Viarode as “seeming like a crazy guy” and “talking to himself.”
- Strange banging noises were heard on the night of the attack, but no shouting.
- The cell alarm sounded multiple times, yet prison staff failed to investigate properly.
- Nguyen’s battered body was only found around midday on February 7.
Judge Andrew Lees expressed sorrow to Nguyen’s family and stressed the seriousness of the failings at HMP Thameside. The inquiry’s outcome could have wider implications for prison safety and mental health oversight.
