The chairman of the public inquiry into the murder of an Asian youth by his white racist cellmate today promised the dead man's family that lessons would be learnt from the tragedy to make prisons safer.

Mr Justice Keith, in his opening statement, told the family of Zahid Mubarek, who died aged 19 at Feltham young offenders' institute, west London, in March 2000, that by uncovering the truth about the circumstances of his murder the inquiry should prevent similar scandals.