The inquest into the death of a prison inmate was postponed again yesterday because Coroner William Francis was out sick.

The inquest is being held due to the death of Stephen Mansfield (Pepe) Dill who it is believed died from a severe asthma attack at the Prison Farm in December 2001.

The inquest was first postponed in August because defence lawyer Delroy Duncan was off the Island with a family emergency. It was rescheduled for this month.

The family of Dill, who was 41 at the time of his death, claimed that prison guards at the farm neglected the man's asthmatic condition and had not called for medical help in enough time to prevent his death.

Dill was at the Prison Farm following a drug possession conviction and was due to leave the facility in two months when he died.

The matter was set to continue today.

This made the second inquest in a week that was postponed because Mr. Francis was ill. Last Thursday the inquest into the death of Shane Furbert, who died in a road traffic accident last December, had to be adjourned.