Murder trial husband found dead

Debbie Smith was found dead at her home in May 2007

A 49-year-old Oxfordshire man on trial accused of murdering his wife has been found dead in his jail cell.

Russell Yeates of Bell Lane in Wheatley, had denied slitting 47-year-old Deborah Smith's throat at their home in May last year.

His trial, which was being held at Oxford Crown Court, was due to begin hearing evidence from the defence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is due to conduct an investigation into his death at Bullingdon Prison.

A spokesman for the Prison Service said: "HMP Bullingdon prisoner Russell Yeates was found in his cell at 0530 GMT. Mr Yeates was pronounced dead at the scene.

"As with all deaths in custody, the prisons and probation ombudsman will conduct an investigation."