A prisoner has been murdered by his cellmate at Silverwater Jail.

Police were called to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre just before 8pm after a man was found dead in a cell.

Corrections officers and nurses performed CPR on the 39-year-old but he couldn’t be revived.

An inmate has been charged with murder following the death of his cellmate at Western Sydney overnight. Officers from Auburn Police Area Command were called to the corrections centre at Silverwater & charged a 35yo inmate. https://t.co/hYnPqhsXE1

— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) April 8, 2019

The Ray Hadley Morning Show has been told a protected prisoner had been placed in a cell with a regular inmate, contravening policy at the maximum security facility.

The alleged murderer is reportedly a protected inmate who should not have had any contact with the general prison population.

The 35-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder. He remains in police custody and will face court today via video link.

2GB has also been told the death went undetected for an hour, despite the CCTV cameras monitoring the ‘safe cell’.

Corrective Services is investigating the incident and, in a statement to The Ray Hadley Morning Show, says it is investigating claims of wrongdoing.

Full statement from Corrective Services NSW

“Corrective Services NSW deeply regrets the death of a 39-year-old-man at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre and extends its deepest sympathy to loved ones.

Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police are investigating the incident.

Every aspect of the incident, including management and placement of the inmates involved, response times and action, will be thoroughly reviewed and any necessary action will be swiftly taken.

It would be premature to speculate on what led to the incident until all the facts are thoroughly investigated and reviewed.”