South London man died by suicide after 'revenge murder' conviction

Stephen O’Rourke died by suicide on December 16, 2020, just hours after he was convicted of murdering Rocky Djelal. 

Stephen’s sister had warned staff at HMP Wandsworth that he planned to kill himself after court and on May 26, 2023, an inquest concluded that prison failings had contributed to his death. 

Stephen, a 48-year-old from Southwark, repeatedly stabbed Mr Djelal near a children’s playground in Southwark Park in broad daylight on Halloween 2018. 

The attack took place on the anniversary of his murdered brother Paddy’s funeral. 

Stephen blamed Mr Djelal for 21-year-old Paddy’s murder which took place in August 2000. 

Mr Djelal, 38, was among those arrested but no-one was ever prosecuted over the killing. 

Eighteen years later, Stephen became convinced that his brother’s killers were “messing with his head” and made contact with his other brother, 34-year-old Jason. 

On October 31, Stephen armed himself with a knife and disguised as a labourer in a hi-vis jacket. 

Stephen O'Rourke disguised as a labourer on his way to kill Mr Djelal (Image: Metropolitan Police)

He found Mr Djelal chatting and laughing on his phone outside the children’s play area. 

Over 26 seconds, Stephen stabbed Mr Djelal three times in the back. Mr Djelal ran away, then stumbled and collapsed over the fence into the play area, screaming: “Help me, help me, he has got a knife.” 

Jason, from Lewisham, collected his brother’s bloodied clothes and took them to be washed. 

The siblings were arrested and Jason took his own life in HMP Belmarsh while he was awaiting trial for assisting an offender. 

Ricky Djelal died from stab wounds inflicted by Stephen O'Rourke (Image: Metropolitan Police)

Stephen declined to give evidence while on trial for murder at the Old Bailey. 

He claimed he acted in self-defence but on December 15, 2020, a jury found him guilty of murder. 

Stephen had a history of mental health problems and in September 2020 told staff at HMP High Down that he might take his own life, particularly after he had appeared in court. 

He was then moved to HMP Wandsworth for the duration of his trial as it was nearer to the Old Bailey. 

Hospital staff at HMP High Down advised that he should be held in HMP Wandsworth’s healthcare wing but due to a lack of space he was instead located in a constant supervision cell on a standard wing. 

Stephen O'Rourke's sister warned prison staff of his plans to kill himself (Image: Metropolitan Police)

On December 12 Stephen’s sister told the prison that he intended to take his own life, but Stephen told prison staff that was not true. 

On December 15 when he was convicted of murder he saw a nurse and a doctor, both of whom told the reception manager that his risk of self-harm needed to be reviewed and that constant supervision should be considered. 

The reception manager contacted Stephen’s wing manager, who said that he was about to go off duty.  

The reception manager then contacted the incoming wing manager, who said that he was not trained to carry out these reviews. 

When staff eventually went to his cell to carry out a review at 11.17pm on December 15 they found him hanging. He was pronounced dead at 12.18am on December 16. 

On May 26 an inquest at Inner West London concluded: “Mr O’Rourke’s death was due to suicide, following failings by HMP Wandsworth in the management of Mr O’Rourke’s heightened risks following conviction.” 

Kimberley Bingham, Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, said: “I am very concerned about the adequacy of arrangements to manage those at risk of suicide or self-harm in Wandsworth. 

“No individual took overall responsibility for managing Mr O’Rourke’s risk as a case manager. It was well documented that the culmination of his trial was a potential trigger point for Mr O’Rourke’s safety. 

“Despite this, his risk to himself was not reviewed when he returned to prison after being convicted and prison staff did not consider whether he might need to be observed more frequently or require additional support. 

“There were also communication difficulties between the two healthcare departments when Mr O’Rourke transferred from High Down to Wandsworth”