A man aged 39 has been accused of murder in connection with the death of another inmate at HMP Exeter on September 15. The suspect, James Desborough, who is also an inmate at the prison, is facing charges related to the killing of 65-year-old Steven Kempster. Desborough is currently under police custody.
Authorities were alerted by the prison staff after discovering Mr. Kempster deceased in his cell around 5:40 am on the aforementioned date. The deceased’s family has been informed of the tragic incident.
According to a spokesperson from Devon and Cornwall Police, the 39-year-old suspect will be presented before Exeter Magistrates’ Court on September 18. Helen Phillips from the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that they have chosen to prosecute James Desborough for the murder of Steven Kempster, citing sufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
This development follows Justice Secretary David Lammy’s recent announcement regarding the trial of chemical suppressants for sex offenders in northwest and northeast England, following a successful trial in the southwest. Lammy emphasized that the medication aims to control problematic sexual arousal among offenders who may pose risks to public safety by supplementing it with psychological interventions targeting other factors contributing to offending behavior.
The deployment of voluntary chemical castration is expected to be extended to around 6,400 offenders in up to 20 prisons across the country. This initiative, which combines medication and psychological treatment, aims to address the dangerous impulses of individuals convicted of sexual offenses. Mr. Lammy provided updates on these initiatives while presenting the Government’s Sentencing Bill for its second reading in the Commons.