Days before his tragic death in custody, murder convict Andrew Davis said that Prison Commissioner Charles Murphy wanted him dead.
Davis, who died on Wednesday, made the chilling claim in the voice note below.
Davis’ fate was in Murphy’s hands. The commissioner closed the prison’s gate on March 16 with no notice, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
This meant that Davis, who had a myriad of health issues, no longer had access to his prescribed diet—which his family had provided for him since 2013 due to budgetary constraints at the prison.
He wrote Murphy the following letter on April 1, begging for access to fruits, vegetables, other nutritional food and purified water due to his failing health. Davis never received a response.
‘I COULDN’T BREATHE’
Davis, who had sleep apnea, used a C-PAC breathing machine. The machine required distilled water, which he no longer had access to. On Sunday, October 25, Davis was taken to the prison’s medical department because he couldn’t breathe. He sent the following message.
Davis was supposed to go to the hospital for a chest X-ray on October 26. It’s unclear if that happened. However, he complained of a fever. According to Davis, doctors had given him water pills to decrease the pressure on his lungs caused by excess fluid. Davis attributed his failing health to the poor prison diet, which he was forced to consume after the prison commissioner denied him access to the healthy foods provided by his family in March. He said was eating starches, such as bread and rice, out of necessity and had gained weight as a result.
The following day, Davis said he had lost his appetite and had a fever. He was given Panadol to reduce his temperature.
On Wednesday, Davis said the fever had broken. But hours later, he sent another message, saying that his fever had returned and he couldn’t breathe and wanted to go to the medical department. Davis died a short time later.
MAINTAINED INNOCENCE TO THE END
Davis and Stephen Stubbs had appealed their 2013 convictions for the 1999 murder of DC Jimmy Ambrose at the now-closed Club Rock Disco to the Privy Council.
Davis maintained his innocence up to his untimely death.
