A prison officer had said the death of an asthmatic inmate would be “one less prisoner to worry about”, an inmate told an inquest yesterday.

Raymond Robinson was giving evidence at the inquest into the suffocation death of father of two Steven Mansfield (Pepe) Dill, 41, who died at the Prison Farm in Ferry Reach on December 19, 2001.

Robinson said Dill had returned from day release shortly after 4.30 p.m. on December 18 and shown prison officer Myron Galloway that both his asthma pumps were empty.

“He said his chest was hurting as his asthma was playing up.

“He told Galloway that if his condition wasn't treated he could die from it.

“At this stage he didn't look too sharp, he looked ill and had difficulty breathing. He looked like he was about to pass out.

“After Pepe told Galloway he could die, Galloway said: “If you die it's one less prisoner I have to worry about.

“I was devastated by Galloway saying what he said. I will never forget that.”

Robinson said he spoke again to Dill at around 7 p.m. who told him he was still waiting for the nurse to come.

Robinson said he had only been at the prison farm for two weeks, did not have a grudge against Mr. Galloway and had no reason to lie and had to deal with him after making the statement the day of the death.

A statement read out in court from prison officer Gerald Bean said he saw Dill at 6.37 p.m. who asked for a nurse.

Bean said: “He told me he had trouble breathing as his asthma was acting up.”

Bean said Dill repeatedly pressed him on where the nurse was and that he had seen Dill four times. “I kept telling him we were waiting to hear from her,” said Bean.

At 8 p.m. he said Mr. Galloway had heard nothing despite paging the nurse.

A statement from prisoner Vincent Douglas said he had known Dill for years and knew he was in trouble as he had learned to spot the signs when Dill was about to have a serious asthma attack.

He telephoned Mr. Galloway and told him it was an emergency.

Former prisoner Asaiah Ejiikeme said he was with Dill when he called for a doctor as Dill explained his asthma pump was empty and if he didn't get help he would die.

He said he saw Mr. Galloway pick up the phone three times but he didn't recall Mr. Galloway once speaking. Mr. Ejiikeme said Dill was: “Literally begging Galloway to get help. He was like a slave begging not to get lynched.

“His bottom lip was sagging, you could hear the fright in his voice. I don't recall Galloway verbally responding to Pepe's pleas for help.

“Pepe's cries were not a priority, that's just the way it is in prison.”

He said medication was kept for inmates who would then fill out an application at the duty hut for refills.

Lawyer Saul Froomkin, who is representing the Dill family, said: “The Divisional Officer would know what medication an inmate was on?”

Mr. Ejiikeme said: “He should.”

He said he recalled Dill repeatedly begging for his asthma pump to be refilled.

Former prisoner Dwayne Gilbert said he saw Dill around 5 p.m. who told him he had been to hospital that morning because the asthma was acting up but he couldn't get his prescription because he had no money.

“At 6.30 to 6.35 he knocked on my room and said the asthma situation was worsening.”

Mr. Gilbert said he phoned an officer and said Dill needed hospital treatment. “He said he already knew,” said Mr. Gilbert. “He (Dill) was saying ‘What the f**k are these people going to to do? Wait until I die or something?”

He said Dill, who was not one to cry wolf, got increasingly distressed while Mr. Galloway said he was waiting for medical staff to arrive.

Earlier in the day prison nurse Marionette DeShields-Zuill was grilled by Mr. Froomkin.

She told him she had been concerned she hadn't been contacted earlier after arriving after midnight to find Dill without a pulse but had not queried Mr. Galloway then or since.

He said: “If it was true Dill was begging Galloway for help from 6 o'clock in the evening would you think a delay of four hours in calling you would be reasonable?”

Ms DeShields-Zuill said: “I can't speak to why he told me at the time he did.”

Mr. Frookin read out the prison rule book which said in a medical emergency the divisional officer must relay information to prison medics but if they can't be reached then they should contact a private practitioner.

Ms DeShields-Zuill agreed that if she had been given the seriousness of Dill's condition she would have immediately called an ambulance. Phone records showed a call made at 6.47 p.m. to her pager but Ms DeShields-Zuill said she didn't receive it despite always keeping it on and was first contacted at around 10 p.m.

The case continues today in front of Coroner William Francis.