Man who murdered wife and teen die just hours apart at Welsh prison

• David Maggs and Michael Horton died within an hour of each other at HMP Parc 

A man who murdered his wife and a teenager died just hours apart at a Welsh prison where nine inmates have also died in just over two months.

David Maggs, 73, and Michael Horton, 19, died within an hour of each other at HMP Parc in Bridgend, South Wales, on Tuesday, becoming the eighth and ninth deaths at the prison since February 27.

South Wales Police has previously said that four of the previous deaths were believed to be drug-related, with the so-called ‘zombie drug’ spice identified in connection with two of these.

A spokesperson for G4S, which runs the prison, has said the deaths in the jail are unrelated, while an investigation will now be carried out by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

However, politicians in the Senedd have said the situation in the prison is now ‘getting out of control’ and have ‘agreed set of actions’ is now being put in place ‘to help mitigate the risk of future harm’.

HMP Parc in Bridgend, South Wales, where two people died just hours apart on Tuesday, becoming the eighth and ninth deaths at the prison since February 27

Michael Horton, 19, (pictured) died within an hour of fellow inmate David Maggs, 73

Maggs (pictured), a retired accountant, was jailed in 2022 for stabbing his wife, Linda Maggs, more than 15 times with a kitchen knife while she was lying in bed

Maggs, a retired accountant, was jailed in 2022 for stabbing his wife, Linda Maggs, more than 15 times with a kitchen knife while she was lying in bed.

A spokeswoman for the Bridgend-based prison said: ‘Mr David Maggs, aged 73, passed away on Tuesday May 7.

‘His next of kin has been informed and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

‘Mr Michael Horton, aged 19, passed away on Tuesday May 7. His next of kin has been informed and our thoughts are with his loved ones.

‘Their deaths were unrelated. Family liaison officers are supporting the families.

‘As with all deaths in custody, these will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.’

A police spokesman said: ‘South Wales Police was called between 12.20am and 12.55am on Tuesday May 7, with reports of two sudden deaths at HMP Parc of a 73-year-old man and a 19-year-old man.

‘Investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. However, at this time they are not believed to be suspicious.

‘It will be for HM Coroner to give a determination on the cause of death.’

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We were called to two separate incidents at HMP Parc, Bridgend. The first call was received at 11.17pm on May 6. We sent one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit and one emergency ambulance to the scene.

‘The second call was received at 12.37am on May 7. We sent an additional Cymru High Acuity Response Unit and emergency ambulance to the scene.’

An inmate writhing around on the floor after taking the drug spice at a prison in the north-east of England

The two deaths come just days after the death of 47-year-old Wayne Hay at HMP Parc. Prior to his death six inmates had died within a space of little more than three weeks earlier this year.

South Wales Police said it was treating two of the six Parc inmate deaths between February 27 and March 19 as non-suspicious but believed the other four to be drug-related.

Detective Steve Jones said in March that ‘a fast-track process has been undertaken and identified the presence of nitazene-based substances in connection with all four deaths’.

The psychoactive substance spice was identified in connection with two of the four deaths.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Sarah Murphy, Labour MS for Bridgend, suggested that with two further deaths at the prison, the situation was ‘getting out of control’.

In reply, the Trefnydd – leader of the house – and chief whip Jane Hutt said the deaths at the prison are ‘very sad and tragic for their families’.

She added: ‘You recognise the operational responsibility for the running of the prison is the responsibility of the UK Government and not devolved to Wales but we work very closely with the HM Prison Service and Probation Service with devolved areas, such as health and social care, where we do have responsibilities.

‘I would like to reassure Sarah Murphy that the Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and HM Prison and Probation Service have met and discussed the tragic deaths and an agreed set of actions is being taken forward to help mitigate the risk of future harm.’

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