Alleged serial predator takes own life in jail while on suicide watch

The lawyer for alleged serial predator Yousef Hussein has confirmed that his client took his own life at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre early Tuesday morning.  

Leonard Shore says he was told by family members that Hussein hanged himself. OCDC staff discovered the body of the 26-year-old in a jail cell at 3:08 a.m.

Ottawa police wouldn't confirm the name or the age of the man found dead, saying only that he suffered from mental health issues.

Hussein on suicide watch

Shore says that after Hussein had a conversation with his wife Saturday, he was put on suicide watch. 

According to Shore, his client's family is very upset, and is now left wondering how he could have taken his own life while being monitored by guards for his own safety.

Hussein, a Jordanian national with an expired student visa, was arrested two years ago and charged with six counts of sexual assault, three counts of overcoming resistance, two counts of break and enter, and two counts of committing an indecent act. 

Offenses occurred over 14-month period 

The victims were attacked in different parts of the city over a 14-month period, several of them while walking alone.

Hussein is the second inmate at the OCDC to die in recent weeks. He had been scheduled to go on trial a year from now.

There will be a coroner's investigation into his death.