The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Inquiry finds prisoners killed by ‘zombie’ drugs
Synthetic cannabinoids were found in system of both inmates
Two Scottish prisoners were killed by synthetic cannabinoids in the same Tayside jail.
Murderer Thomas Shields and armed robber Kevin Sloan were both found dead in Castle Huntly prison after taking so-called “zombie” drugs.
A fatal accident inquiry at Perth Sheriff Court on Friday heard how Shields was found dead in a kneeling position, “like he was praying”, in his cell in the Carse of Gowrie open prison.
The inquiry heard how Shields, who had passed his most recent drug test and was preparing for release from a life sentence, was found dead on October 2 2017.
He had played football and made spaghetti the night before but was found lifeless and stiff with rigor mortis just months before completing his 14-year sentence.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte confirmed the “designer” drug – 5F-mdmb-Pinaca – had been found in his system and had killed him.
In a joint minute, agreed with Tayside Health Board and the Scottish Prison Service, she said: “The cause of death was due to the adverse effects of 5F-mdmb-Pinaca, a synthetic cannabinoid.
“The deceased had routine drug tests and all were negative. The last one was on August 21 2017 and proved negative.”
Shields, who was 30 when he died, was convicted of murder and jailed for life in 2004, with the punishment period reduced from 18 to 14 years on appeal.
The hearing was told he had successfully completed home leaves including his final placement in September 2017 with Tayport Junior Football Club.
Ms Whyte said a post-mortem examination on October 4 found traces of the drug in his blood and urine but it was not clear when or how it had been ingested. Prison chiefs have reported examples of the drug being smuggled in by soaking children’s drawings in it before drying them out and using vapes to smoke them.
A separate inquiry into the death of Kevin Sloan heard he had fallen victim to an almost identical synthetic cannabinoid.
Sloan, 31, died on February 27 2016 as a result of taking a combination of heroin and AKB48-N15 (hydroxypentyl).
Further evidence on his death will be heard next month.