Trans woman ‘hanged herself’ in men’s prison after being denied make-up brushes
Transgender prisoner Joanne Latham continues to be misgendered by prison officials even at her own inquest, after taking her life in an all-male facility.
Joanne Latham who was serving a life sentence for three attempted murders at the all-male HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, but died by suicide last November.
She was just one of a string of trans women to kill themselves inside male facilities, leading the UK government to order a broader review of the treatment of trans prisoners.
Milton Keynes Coroner’s court this week heard that Latham was treated as a suicide risk after becoming increasingly distressed at being treated as a man – and was subjected to hourly monitoring checks at the time she was found dead.
According to the MK Citizen, HMP Woodhill’s head of operations Alan Parkins was unable to explain why there had been extensive delays that deprived Latham of access to items including make-up brushes.
Asked to explain why the prison delayed releasing the items to her for 16 days prior to her death, he said: “I can’t.”
Prison officers continue to refer to her by her former name and gender during the inquest.
According to the Sun, a prison officer recalled: “Eddie said he had a plan [to take their own life] and she was going to carry it out and that she was at breaking point.
“Eddie made so many threats, he made threats about not getting a shower in time.
“He was very angry, heightened about the brushes situation but he was angry at staff not himself.
“He was very, very angry. He was extremely hostile and aggressive.”
Mr Parkins said: “Eddie probably was one of the most challenging prisoners I have ever managed.”
Latham allegedly had a “long history” of self-harm and a borderline personality disorder.
The inquest continues.
