No lunch for prisoner policy denied

The Correctional Services Department is denying media reports that it does not provide lunch for remandees while they are at court for trial.



The issue emerged last week when the murder case of Ambassador Peter King was delayed because the accused Sheldon Pusey reported being ill.



Pusey claimed that he was hungry because he was not provided with lunch and he was therefore not able to sit in for the remainder of the trial the day.



But last night, the Acting Commissioner of Customs, June Jarrett said Pusey was not in the custody of her department at the time of the trial.



Yesterday Pusey was found guilty of manslaughter arising from the fatal stabbing and chopping of Ambassador King.



Pusey who has been in custody since March 2007 was charged with murder but the jury found him guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.



The 12-member jury retired for four-and-a-half hours before returning the verdict.



Ten members of the jury believed Pusey was guilty of manslaughter while two believed that he should have been set free.



Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh has ordered a social enquiry report before sentencing on April 1.