A MURDER suspect hanged himself after being accused of stabbing to death a “devoted father”.

Shaun Dewey had been in custody since the incident which saw 45-year-old Andrew Owen killed during an altercation at an address in Cherry Close, Bewdley last year.

Police found Mr Owen's body with knife wounds to his neck and abdomen on September 17, after officers responded to reports of a disturbance.

Dewey, a 30-year-old Cherry Close neighbour, later appeared at Birmingham Crown Court charged with murder, and causing grievous bodily harm to a 53-year-old man in connection with the same incident.

But during a short Worcester Crown Court hearing on July 4, prosecutor Richard Atkins said: “This is the case of Shaun Dewey, which was due for trial later in the year.

“He hung himself on April 13. There is a death certificate. He killed himself in custody.

“The family of the victim are in the court, as they have been on every occasion. I shall explain to them why it is there won't be any trial.”

Judge Robert Juckes said: “It just remains for me to say that I am satisfied that the person named in the death certificate is the man who was charged, and had been before court. He died, it seems, at his own hand."

Worcestershire Coroners Service told us Dewey died in a prison outside of the county, but could not provide any further information.

After Mr Owen’s death, his family paid tribute describing him as a “devoted son, father, nephew, cousin and friend who was loved by many”.

Their statement said: “He was a loving and proud father. He was so kind-hearted and would go out of his way for anyone and everyone. He was a very keen fisherman.

"His loss leaves a huge gap in our lives and he will be dearly missed.”