Calls have been made for a public inquiry into how a prisoner hanged himself at Westgate – four years after recommendations that he needed psychiatric help overseas.

Lorenzo Robinson, 28, a paranoid schizophrenic who suffered from depression, was found dead in his cell late on Sunday night.

The authorities have remained tight-lipped over how he died, but The Royal Gazette understands from sources close to the case that he used a sheet tied to a ceiling fixture.

Yesterday, lawyers Elizabeth Christopher and Llewellyn Peniston – who had both represented Robinson – called for a public inquiry, with Ms Christopher accusing the government of failing him.

"This matter sickens me. I guess I would say that I am devastated though not surprised at what has happened," she said.

"Lorenzo was ill and belonged in a hospital not a prison. Perhaps if he had been in an environment more conducive to treatment this would not have happened."

Robinson was incarcerated after stabbing American tourist Scott Jable in the back with a six-inch blade on Front Street in 2002, in an attack that narrowly missed paralysing his victim.

He claimed to have acted after hearing the voice of Osama Bin Laden, and was acquitted of attempted murder in October 2004 on the grounds that he was criminally insane.

The jury was told that no suitable psychiatric facility was available to house him in Bermuda. Dr. Frank Kelly, honorary senior lecturer at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in England, said Robinson could be "treatable" with drugs, but would not be given adequate care in a prison.

He recommended that segregating him in a locked cell would be "detrimental to his health". Instead, he suggested that Robinson would benefit most from a "forensic psychiatric unit" such as the special high-security hospital Broadmoor in the UK.

After the verdict, Judge Ian Kawaley ordered Robinson be kept at Westgate until "the pleasure of the Governor was known".

The Governor at the time, Sir John Vereker, convened an advisory committee. This recommended in early 2005 that Robinson be treated and housed at Westgate, with clinical treatment provided at St. Brendan's mental hospital (now Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute). That was pending a suitable secure unit being established at Westgate with appropriate psychiatric long-term treatment.

Following this, a Westgate cell for Robinson was designated as a "hospital" under the Mental Health Act.

Three years later, after waiting in vain for specialist treatment, he appealed to Chief Justice Richard Ground. The top judge backed his plea for overseas help in March, branding the conditions at Westgate as unsuitable for his needs and at times disturbing.

Efforts to achieve a local forensic psychiatric unit and also treatment overseas for Robinson were ongoing at the time of his death, but Ms Christopher said yesterday that help should have been forthcoming sooner.

"It is almost six years since he stabbed Mr. Jable and almost four years since his fate was placed in the hands of the Governor to ensure that he be committed to a hospital," she said.

"It has been said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. I guess we failed on that one.

"Despite his illness he was an intelligent person with many wonderful things about him. The best tribute to this decent person would be to try to do better. There needs to be a public inquiry, Lorenzo is not the only mentally disordered criminal defendant and we need to ensure that it does not happen again."

Mr. Peniston, who was petitioning Health Minister Nelson Bascome to send Robinson abroad for treatment at the time of his death, echoed her sentiments saying: "He's a young man, it's sad that his need was so obvious and so immediate...surely there should be a public inquiry to ensure that this is not swept under the carpet. It should not occur again."

The Police continued to investigate the circumstances of Robinson's death yesterday, with Detective Chief Inspector Antoine Daniels saying that an autopsy will be carried out today. He declined to give further information until the results are known, but said an inquest will be held.