A prison inmate has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that landed another inmate in hospital in critical condition.
Patrick Carl Shea is facing three counts, including aggravated assault, breach of probation and breach of recognizance. The 39-year-old is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court Friday.
Police say a fight broke out between two inmates at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth Wednesday at around 9:30 p.m. One of the inmates fell down the stairs during the fight.
The 49-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries that police say are potentially life-threatening. As of Friday morning, he remained on life support and in critical condition.
The victim's family has identified him as 49-year-old Eddie McNamara.
Justice Minister Ross Landry tells CTV he's satisfied that the proper protocol was followed after the altercation.
"When you put the mix of people that have like behaviour into quarters such as that, you have an escalation of potential for violence…but I'm very confident in the structure in the system and the security that we have in there," says Landry.
