A prisoner has appeared in court charged with the murder of a fellow inmate at a high-security jail in Cambridgeshire.
Court Appearance and Plea
Nathaniel Reece, 44, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court via a prison video-link to face a charge of murder. The proceedings took an unusual turn when Reece left the room partway through. Subsequently, a not guilty plea was formally entered on his behalf by the court.
Reece is accused of killing 63-year-old John Mansfield at HMP Whitemoor, located near March in Cambridgeshire. The alleged incident occurred on 13 April 2025.
Victim and Circumstances
The victim, John Mansfield, was found dead within the prison. A post-mortem examination concluded that the former Manchester man died as a result of a head injury.
Mansfield was himself serving a life sentence. He had been jailed for life in 2007 with a minimum term of 30 years for the murder of his 63-year-old neighbour, Ann Alfanso.
Next Steps in the Case
Nathaniel Reece, formerly from Islington in north London, is now scheduled to stand trial at the same court. The trial is set to begin on 1 June 2026 and will determine the outcome of the murder charge brought against him.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges within the high-security prison system and will be closely watched as it progresses through the judicial process.
