Wife killer among two further deaths at prison

David Maggs, who was jailed for a minimum of 20 years for murdering his wife, has died in prison

A man who murdered his wife is among two further deaths at a prison in which nine inmates have died in just over two months.

David Maggs, 73, died at Bridgend’s HMP Parc on Tuesday. Michael Horton, 19, also died.

Maggs was jailed in 2022 after stabbing his wife, Linda Maggs, at least 15 times in her neck, chest and hands at their home in Pontypool.

A prison spokesperson said the deaths were unrelated and will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

Maggs was found guilty of murdering his wife following a trial.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Fitton KC told him: “You were bitter and angry with life and you took out that inner anger and resentment on Linda on the day you killed her.

“She died in pain and terror. You left the room without checking to see if she was dead or alive.”

He was sentenced to life with 20 years’ minimum imprisonment.

The latest deaths follow six others at the prison within a three-week period from the end of a February and one within the last week.

In March, South Wales Police said four of the previous deaths were believed to be drug related and inmates were urged to throw away their drugs by the prison watchdog.

All four of these deaths involved the synthetic opioid nitazene, with two of those also involving the synthetic drug called spice.

On Tuesday a police spokesperson said: “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.”