Prisoner found guilty of 'violent' cellmate murder

A prisoner who strangled his cellmate before telling officers "I've killed my padmate" has been found guilty of murder.

Jonathan Alcide, 36, killed Neil Ashby, 49 at HMP Stoke Heath in July last year.

Alcide denied murder, claiming he was not guilty by reason of insanity, and was instead guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

But he was convicted of murder after a jury at Stafford Crown Court came to a unanimous guilty verdict on Friday after nine hours of deliberation. Judge Avik Mukherjee said he would be sentenced on 17 November.

Ashby's body had been found on his bed with the words "they killed us" written on his back, the court heard.

The victim had told fellow prisoners he was worried about Alcide's mental health in the weeks before he was strangled by him, at some point between the evening of 30 June and the early hours of 1 July, the trial was told.

It heard a prison officer described Alcide as "eerily nonchalant" after alerting staff that Ashby was dead by ringing the buzzer in their cell at 06:13 BST on 1 July.

During the trial, prosecution counsel Sally Howes KC said a week before the murder, Alcide had asked the prison doctor to certify him as sick for employment due to "severe post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia".

She added he told a forensic psychologist after his arrest that he was an "angel turned into demon".

The court heard fellow Stoke Heath prisoners described Ashby as "quiet and decent" and a "nice lad" who had declined multiple cell moves despite raising concerns about Alcide's mental health.

Other prisoners noticed that Alcide was becoming less sociable and would stay in his cell and not open the curtains.

Ashby would collect and bring Alcide meals after he stopped leaving his room, the trial heard.

He told fellow inmates that Alcide had started to read the Koran, was becoming scared of God, was having suicidal thoughts, and would keep him up at night.

On 30 June 2025, Ashby told another prisoner Alcide had said: "I'm worried I'm going to strangle you, Neil."

The court heard Ashby's body was discovered on his bottom bunk bed, and that Alcide had superficial cuts to his wrist and blood on his white shirt.

A post-mortem examination found Ashby died due to applied neck pressure, most likely as a result of a neck hold or a "broad, soft ligature".

Words were daubed on the cell wall in pen and blood, including "I did not slay them" and "they killed us… help".

Upon entering the cell, another prison officer said Alcide was "really cool and calm" and, when asked what he had done, said: "I'm sorry boss, I've killed him."

One of the defence experts said Alcide may have been suffering a severe depressive episode with psychosis.

Another said he may have a delusional disorder, ongoing mental and behavioural disorders due to previous dependence on cannabis, and paranoid delusions.

Judge Mukherjee thanked the jury for carrying out their work with dedication, and exempted them from jury service for life.

Det Ch Insp Rob Rondel said Ashby had died in a "violent and senseless attack."

"Our thoughts remain with Neil's family and loved ones, who have had to endure the devastating consequences of his death while waiting for justice."

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the government was "taking decisive action to make jails safer".

That included building 14,000 prison places and spending £75m on prison security, it said.

The MoJ also said former Home Secretary Amber Rudd was leading an independent review "to drive long-term reform".

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