'Like Game of Thrones': US prisoners forced to fight each other by 'sadistic' guards
Inmates forced into gladiatorial contests for guards' sadistic pleasure, lawyer says
The US Department of Justice has been asked to investigate claims that prison guards forced inmates to engage in gladiator-style fights for "sadistic pleasure" and betting, in scenes the authorities said evoked the television series Game of Thrones.
An inmate at the San Francisco County jail who weighed 70kg was allegedly forced to fight a 160kg inmate, under threat of being shot with a Taser by guards, Jeff Adachi, the San Francisco County public defender, said.
Four sheriff's deputies have been accused by three inmates of orchestrating the fights.
Adachi said the deputy who orchestrated the activities was accused in 2006 of sexually assaulting inmates, in a case that was settled out of court.
"I can only describe this as an outrageously sadistic scenario that sounds like it's out of Game of Thrones," Adachi said.
All four sheriff's deputies were put on administrative leave, and the two inmates cited by Adachi were moved to different prisons.