An inmate accused of killing his girlfriend took his own life in jail, an inquest heard.
Liam Murray, 27, was charged with killing mum Stacey Cooper, 34, at her home in Malham Gill, in Gateshead, on New Year's Eve in 2019.
Mr Murray had appeared twice in court charged with murder and possessing a kitchen knife in public, but had yet to enter a plea and was being held in custody at HMP Durham.
He arrived at the prison on January 2 last year but was found hanged in his cell on January 14, Chronicle Live reports.
Mr Murray wrote a number of letters to family in the days before his death, with a final letter believed to be for his uncle, reading: "My head's done in. I'm sorry for what's happened. I didn't mean to do this.
"I didn't mean to kill her."
In a letter found in Mr Murray's cell he claimed the family of the person he killed were in the prison and he "feared for my safety as I fear I'm going to get sliced up."
On Friday, jurors concluded the cause of Mr Murray’s death was suicide after hearing how on the day of his death Mr Murray's cellmate went to work but he chose not to leave his cell.
Mr Murray was found by another prisoner who alerted staff that he had been found hanged.
Prison officers and medical staff then rushed to the scene and CPR commenced before paramedics arrived at the prison.
The court heard officers from Durham Constabulary attended the scene and they inspected the cell.
Officer found no suicide note in Mr Murray's cell and found "nothing suspicious", the court was told.
Jurors heard from prison staff who said there had been no concerns over his mental health and he did not arrive at prison with a form warning of suicide attempts or self-harm.
Nor did he tell staff about having thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
Coroner Oliver Longstaff addressed Mr Murray’s mum, Joanne Murray, and grandmother, as the inquest closed.
He praised their dignity and courage for listening to what he described as “very difficult evidence”.
Mr Longstaff said the circumstances around Mr Murray's final imprisonment would have been a “blow” to the whole family.
He added: “That said, it is often said by coroners in my position that all of us are better than the worst thing we have done.”
