Elderly Calif. prisoner starved to death

FRESNO, Calif., March 15 (UPI) -- Guards at a California prison reportedly let a 72-year-old prisoner starve himself to death -- despite repeated pleas and warnings from other inmates.

Khem Singh, a Sikh and convicted child molester, stopped eating about two months ago, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

One inmate wrote a letter to state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, pleading she intervene, but it arrived a few days after Singh's death Feb. 16.

The inmate said a guard had brutalized Singh in December, and Singh was so afraid of a second assault, he hadn't left his cell for meals or medical appointments for nearly 60 days.

He weighed about 80 pounds near the time of his death from heart and lung failure.

Singh spoke no English and was disabled, the Times said.