THE family of a schizophrenic Czech man who died jumping onto a live rail after leaving Wandsworth Prison has blamed the prison service for his death.

Martin Hrbácek, 28, died on August 11 last year, just half an hour after his sudden release from Wandsworth Prison. Mr Hrbácek spent three days on remand there before a burglary charge against him was dropped.

Prison staff did not return his possessions, including his telephone, and despite concerns about his psychotic behaviour he was allowed to leave speaking little English and only £1.50 in his pocket.

Paranoid, lost and unable to call his family the theology graduate jumped to his death from Strath Terrace bridge, near Clapham Junction at 6.30pm.

The inquest, in Westminster last Thursday, heard from witness Storme Dewar, who said: "I remember thinking to myself what sad eyes he had - he seemed like a very sad man and I remember feeling sorry for him."

Martin's brother Jan Hrbácek said: "He had no money, no telephone, he was released into a town of which he knew nothing.

"The communication in the prison is very bad - the experience you have gained now cost my brother his life. It is too high a price to pay."

Mr Hrbácek said Martin, who had worked as a carer for the disabled, was a keen rock climber who had suffered fears of persecution for about three years.

He said: "He always believed he was strong enough to overcome all this and become healthy. He told me he would never, ever commit suicide."

He said his brother, who had come to the UK several months earlier to travel, may have been trying to escape from something. There are no live rails in the Czech Republic.

He appears to have had a paranoid relapse and was arrested climbing into a first floor flat in the City, after being refused refuge in the building.

Wandsworth Prison governor Ian Mulholland said staff were unaware of his medical records or even of his nationality, but were concerned at his behaviour.

"We had no legal right to hold him and at that point he was very adamant he wanted to leave," said Mr Mulholland.

He said releasing Martin without possessions was "indefensible" and there is now a central, obtainable database of inmates' records and the property cupboard is always accessible. Prisoners are now released with a map, a list of support numbers and appropriate funds.

Coronor Dr Shirley Radcliffe recorded an open verdict on Martin's death.