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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Matthew Cooper, PA & Jonathan Coles

Death of SAS Who Dares Wins star's brother who murdered daughter, 8, 'not suspicious'

The death of an SAS: Who Dares Wins TV star's evil brother serving life for the murder of his daughter is not believed to be suspicious, an inquest has heard.

William Billingham, 57, was found dead last week in his cell at HMP Birmingham where he was serving a 27-year minimum term.

He was jailed for stabbing Mylee Billingham, eight, in a "cowardly and brutal" attack in Brownhills, near Walsall, in January 2018.

Billingham is the brother of Mark 'Billy' Billingham MBE who has appeared as an instructor on the hit Channel 4 show.

James Bennett, area coroner for Birmingham, was told that the father-of-six was already dead by the time paramedics arrived at the jail on March 19.

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William Billingham was jailed for stabbing daughter Mylee to death (SWNS.com)

He said Billingham's death was likely to be linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and confirmed he had complained of feeling unwell and been assessed by medical staff on March 18.

The coroner told the inquest opening at Birmingham Coroner's Court: "The information that I have received is at an early stage and provisional.

"It is understood that, on the 18th of March, he (Billingham) reported to medical staff at HMP Birmingham that he was feeling unwell.

"On the following day he was found deceased in his cell.

Brother Mark Billingham has appeared as an instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins (SWNS.com)

"At this point in time West Midlands Police do not believe his death to be suspicious."

The coroner added: "A post-mortem examination was conducted on the 23rd of March.

"It is likely that Mr Billingham's death was connected to his severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder but that cannot be confirmed until toxicology has been completed."

Mr Bennett adjourned the inquest until a review hearing on July 29 and said a subsequent final hearing is expected to investigate the medical cause of death, the role of medical services at HMP Birmingham, and the monitoring of Billingham's medical needs.

Billingham was jailed for 27 years in 2018 (SWNS.com)

A trial at Birmingham Crown Court was told that primary school pupil Mylee was stabbed in January 2018 in a "revenge" attack motivated by jealousy and anger against Billingham's ex-partner Tracey Taundry.

Jurors were told that Billingham, of Valley View, Brownhills, killed the youngster after dragging her into his bungalow when her mother came to collect her.

The former factory worker was also given a two-year concurrent jail term for holding a kitchen knife to the throat of Miss Taundry moments before the murder.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "HMP Birmingham prisoner William Billingham died in custody on 19 March 2021. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed."

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