Assange friend hanged himself in Belmarsh

A jailhouse friend of Julian Assange hanged himself in Belmarsh prison before he could be deported to Brazil, a court heard.

Manoel Messias Santos, 50, was found dead in his cell at the maximum security jail on 2 November 2020 by a prison officer.

Santos had lived in the UK for 20 years, but was fighting deportation to Brazil after serving a prison sentence.

Mr Santos was found hanging in his cell by a ligature, and the coroner after autopsy that his cause of death was hanging.

Southwark Coroner Philip Barlow said: ‘On 2 November 2020 when it was reported that Mr Santos, who was 50 years of age, was found dead in his cell.

‘He had been seen and checked in his cell on 1 November, and on the morning of 2 November.

‘He was found to be hanging from a ligature, he was pronounced dead at the scene by a member of the ambulance service.

‘An autopsy was performed, and the cause of death was given as hanging.

Mr Santos was understood to be working on a bail application at the time of his death, hoping to be released from HMP Belmarsh.

Stella Moris, Assange’s partner, released a statement on social media saying: ‘Manoel Santos was gay. He’d lived in UK for 20 years. The Home Office served him with a deportation notice to Brazil.

‘Julian wants to express his condolences to Manoel’s friends and family.

‘Julian tells me Manoel was an excellent tenor.

‘He helped Julian read letters in Portuguese, and he was a friend.

‘He feared deportation to Brazil after 20 years, being gay put him at risk where he was from.

‘Manoel was at high risk. His suicide was foreseeable. An inquiry into his case might prevent future suicides.

A full inquest will be heard on a date to be fixed.