Custody officer Lorraine Barwell died from head injury

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Lorraine BarwellImage source, PA
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Mother-of-two Lorraine Barwell died from a serious head injury

A custody officer who was attacked outside a court in central London died from a serious head injury, tests have found.

Lorraine Barwell, 54, was attacked as she escorted a prisoner from Blackfriars Crown Court to a van on 29 June. She died on Friday.

Post-mortem examination tests show the provisional cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, the Met said.

Humphrey Burke, 22, is accused of grievous bodily harm.

Mr Burke, of no fixed address, appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on 1 July. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 15 July.

Ms Barwell, from Romford, east London, worked for the services company Serco for more than 10 years.

The Ministry of Justice and Serco said she was the first prison custody officer to die in the line of duty.

Scotland Yard, Serco and the Ministry of Justice are investigating Ms Barwell's death.

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