Judge hands down verdict in case of Manitoba prison guard accused in inmate's death

WINNIPEG – A Manitoba judge is expected to hand down his ruling today in the case of a senior correctional officer accused in the death of an inmate.

Robert Jeffrey Morden has pleaded not guilty to causing the death of 45-year-old William Ahmo of the Sagkeeng Anicinabe people through criminal negligence and failing to provide him with the necessities of life.

Ahmo was involved in a standoff with guards at Headingley Correctional Centre in 2021 and died in hospital a week later.

Morden was the officer in charge of the emergency unit that subdued Ahmo at the provincial prison west of Winnipeg.

Video evidence presented at trial shows officers taking the inmate to the ground, handcuffing him, placing a spit hood over his head and placing him in a restraint chair before he loses response.

The court heard that he died from a brain injury resulting from cardiac arrest.