Hedge row man 'hung himself with sling'

The two men had been arguing about a hedge

A Lincoln man who was accused of murdering his neighbour in a row over their hedge used a sling to hang himself in his prison cell, an inquest has been told.

The hearing has already heard how Robert Dickenson, 52, shot his neighbour, George Wilson, 66, in Webster Close in Lincoln last June.

After his arrest, Mr Dickenson was treated for a fractured elbow.

The inquest at Lincoln Coroners Court into the deaths of both men continues.

Doctors' assessments

Police surgeon Dr John Parkin saw Robert Dickenson in custody at Lincoln police station two days after the shooting.

He told the inquest he believed Mr Dickenson was at a high risk of self harm because of concern about his mental state and advised officers to put him on continuous observation.

The next day, when he was admitted to Lincoln Prison, he was assessed by Dr Philip Mitchell.

Dr Philip Mitchell, who knew Mr Dickenson had tried to take an overdose before his arrest, assessed him as needing "frequent" rather than constant observation.

Dr Mitchell told the inquest: "He told me he was expecting a life sentence in seven days. He said he wasn't feeling so suicidal. I felt his risk was declining."