A number of prison officers may face charges after the contents of a recently concluded investigation into the death of a prisoner last year were handed to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said the DPP will now review the file, which details the final hours of former Prison Farm inmate Steven Mansfield (Pepe) Dill, who died on December 19.

Mr. Dill's family have threatened legal action against prison authorities on grounds that guards allegedly failed to respond adequately to the inmate's calls for medical attention.

And while Mr. Dill's death was suspected to have been caused by an asthma attack, sources told The Royal Gazette yesterday that he had drugs in his system when he collapsed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Caines said yesterday the investigation papers, together with a covering report, will be forwarded to the DPP and they will advise Police accordingly.

He added the inquiry had looked into the movements of the Mr. Dill, who was nearing the end of his sentence and was on work release, on and before the day of his death.

And Mr. Caines said there would be no further public comment on the investigation until the case is heard in court, whether it be at a Coroner's inquest or otherwise.

"The Minister (Mr. Lister) remains optimistic that the review by the DPP represents another step towards closure of this matter for the entire Dill family."