Georgia prison guards admit frenzied beating of inmates

Allegations of a sadistic orgy of violence at a prison in the state of Georgia - perpetrated by the guards against defenceless inmates - are sending shock waves across the Deep South and the whole of the United States.

The bloody brawl, alleged to have taken place at the Hays State Prison in north-western Georgia one year ago, seemingly erupted after one inmate was dragged by his hair across the floor of a cell block by a corrections official.

What apparently followed was a horrific free-for-all in which prisoners, some of them restrained in handcuffs, were kicked, punched and stomped on by guards until an entire 30-foot section of concrete wall was covered in blood.

Among those who apparently watched and even applauded the melee was the commissioner of the state prison system, Wayne Garner, who is an old friend and political ally of Georgia's Governor, Zell Miller. Mr Garner and colleagues later celebrated the day's work with high-fives and a special chicken dinner.

Blowing the whistle now are a handful of officers who took part in the assaults and appear to have been struck by guilty consciences. In recent days they have given stomach-churning sworn testimonies as part of a lawsuit that has been filed in federal court by some of the inmates.

Most forthcoming has been Ray McWhorter, a lieutenant at Hays. "It was a dad-gum shark frenzy," he testified. "You know how sharks do. They see a spot of blood, and then here come the sharks everywhere from a mile around."

Asked to describe the blood marks on the wall, he said: "Looked like you threw a blood water balloon against the wall or something. It kind of splattered out in like a circular pattern with it dripping down the wall."

Another officer, Phyllis Tucker, recounted seeing prisoners lined up against the wall, some stripped naked and bleeding. She said the pattern described by Mr McWhorter was left when one handcuffed inmate had his head slammed against the wall. "I heard a sickening cracking sound."

Mr Garner, who is still receiving public support from the Governor, had no experience of prison management until his appointment two years ago. He has publicly bragged about his harsh policies, once declaring that one-third of the inmates in his charge "ain't fit to kill".

The lawsuit has been filed for the inmates by the Southern Center for Human Rights. Its director is Stephen Bright. "It's not unusual to have inmates telling you these things happen," he said. "What's remarkable is the verification from the guards."