No date has been set for an inquest into the death of mentally-ill prisoner Lorenzo Robinson, six months on from his death.

The 28-year-old, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and depression, was found hanged in his Westgate cell on July 13 2008.

His lawyer Llewellyn Peniston revealed afterwards that he was on suicide watch at the time, but not in a cell monitored by camera.

Last night, Deputy Governor Mark Capes said Government House "continues to take a close interest in this case".

He added: "We understand that the Bermuda Police Service investigation is nearing completion and that their findings should be ready for submission to the Coroner in the near future."

Coroner's officer Adrian Cook said this week that the file is still being prepared.

"I'm afraid the Lorenzo Robinson investigation is not yet complete, so we are not near projecting an inquest date. We really cannot do one without the other," he said.

"The delay is based upon the forensic testing etc. All our forensic cases are handled by an overseas pathologist, therefore we wait for them to finish their cases as they are able. We are still awaiting the full report of the forensic post mortem exam."

Robinson was sent to Westgate indefinitely after being acquitted on grounds of insanity of attempting to stab a tourist to death on Front Street in 2002.

Experts said during his trial in 2004 that he was highly dangerous and required long-term detention and treatment in a secure psychiatric facility.

There is no such unit at Westgate and Bermuda's only mental hospital, the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, said it did not have a secure unit suitable for the long term detention of such a high-risk patient.

Robinson obtained a ruling from Chief Justice Richard Ground four months before his death that his condition required him to be treated in a secure forensic psychiatric unit and that so-called "hospital cells" at Westgate were no such thing.

The Chief Justice asked for Robinson's care to be reconsidered including the possibility of sending him overseas but he remained in Westgate until he died.

Three lawyers who represented Robinson, Elizabeth Christopher, Narinder Dosanjh and Mr. Peniston, have called for a public inquiry into his death. They believe lessons need to be learned for the benefit of other mentally ill prisoners who may be waiting in vain for specialist help.

Neither the Government nor Government House have stated whether a public inquiry will be held.